In what must be an historic decision the European Parliament’s administration decided Monday to hold a shortened Plenary Session in Strasbourg and not to vote on any proposals because only about half the members were able to attend.

This rare event, widely tipped by Brussels observers, caused by the massive cloud of volcanic ash following the Icelandic eruption that led to the ban on aircraft flights over most of northern and eastern Europe meant that MEPs had to be bussed over 500 kilometers in coaches from Luxembourg and Brussels to the French city.

The travel problems were aggravated by an on-going French railways strike and the Parliament had to lay on coaches. That some 50 percent of MEPs attended was due, in part, to the fact that many had been stranded in Brussels by the airlines flight ban.

“The decision has been made not to hold a voting session is because it was not considered by the conference of presidents to be fair. The session will therefore end to allow those members present to get home,” an official told EU Reporter.