” “The European Parliament supports the Catholic archdiocese of Bucharest in its protest against the erection of the Cathedral Plaza building near the Cathedral. It was stated by the members of the Committee for Petitions of the European Parliament, who are on an official visit to Bucharest over these days. Yesterday, the MEPs visited the Cathedral and said they are "dismayed" about the way things stand. During their meeting with archbishop Ioan Robu, the MEPs invited the Church of Bucharest to hold on to their position in the debates that will be held within the European institutions to solve the matter. In 2007, over 400 MEPs signed a statement (no. 54/2007) to the effect of condemning "the illegal erection of this building, which endangers the Cathedral and the metropolitan palace, considered architectural monuments of historical interest in Romania". The visit in Bucharest by the Committee for Petitions of the European Parliament is due to the fact the Committee will soon have to pass judgement on the petition submitted by the Archdiocese of Bucharest. The works for the erection of the Cathedral Plaza building, which are now well under way, have been stopped since August 2007, following the decision of the Court of Appeal.
