12 times a year, the European Parliament changes its headquarters from Brussels to Strasbourg. It is a compromise stipulated in the Lisbon Treaty but means that the entire administration surrounding the EU needs to act.
Today was such a day. At 9 a.m., the train left Brussels with about 100 members of parliament and a similar number of officials on board, according to Politico.
Then something happened that almost never happens: a train went wrong.
“Disneyland instead of Strasbourg”
The press director of the Center Party in the Brussels Chancellery, Dan Edström, was one of those on the train.
– They connected the train wrongly and took us to Disneyland instead of Strasbourg. The train departs from Brussels via Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, where the train was then connected to the wrong track. Then I discovered it a couple of stops later and then made it to Disneyland proper.
– People didn’t understand where he was, and why we were there. Then a conductor came and told us that we had been cut off and that we should try to get back and return to Paris, he says.
Very late
It is estimated that they were delayed between 45 minutes and an hour, and at 1pm on Monday they finally arrived at their original destination.
The European Parliament has been jokingly referred to in some contexts as the “Mickey Pig Parliament” after what legend claims was a statement issued by then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
This adds an extra flavor to wrong driving, says Dan Edstrom.
“It’s so funny we get a trip to Disneyland instead,” he says.
“Unapologetic writer. Bacon enthusiast. Introvert. Evil troublemaker. Friend of animals everywhere.”
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