MEPs to wear ceremonial EU sash in parliament sessions
Members of the European Parliament are set to don a new ceremonial EU sash during official sessions, in a move that’s drawing both support and raised eyebrows across the political spectrum in Brussels.
The tricolor sash, styled in the EU’s signature blue and gold, would be worn across the chest — not unlike the mayoral sashes common in French and Spanish municipal traditions. It’s a symbolic gesture, proponents say, aimed at reinforcing a visible sense of European identity at a time when the bloc faces mounting pressure from nationalist movements in several member states.
Symbol or spectacle?
The proposal has been quietly advancing through internal Parliament discussions for several months. Supporters argue that the sash gives MEPs a recognizable emblem of their mandate — something tangible that distinguishes their European role from their national one. Critics, however, aren’t convinced. Some conservative MEPs have already called it theatrical, a distraction from the institution’s real legislative work.
“This is about dignity and visibility for the European project,” one Parliament official said, declining to be named ahead of a formal vote.
Still, the optics are complicated. With 720 MEPs representing 27 countries, not everyone’s on board with a uniform ceremonial dress code.
What comes next
A formal vote on the sash proposal is expected before the end of the current parliamentary term. And depending on the outcome, the accessory could debut as early as a major plenary session in Strasbourg in 2025. Whether it becomes a proud tradition or a forgotten gimmick remains to be seen.
