But confidential documents, seen by the Daily Telegraph, disclose that, in
terms of their own budget, MEPs are more preoccupied with their public image
than the economy.
Despite the worst economic crisis since 1945, the parliament wants a 24 per
cent increase in spending on “communications” and spin doctors.
Panic is growing in the parliament over looming European elections in 2014
after voter turnout fell to a record low in 2009 amid swings to Eurosceptic
parties.
Martin Schulz, the parliament’s president, admitted last Friday that most
members of the public view MEPs as “superfluous, useless human beings”.
In a bid to win over a hostile public, the parliament’s overall propaganda
budget will rise over 20 per cent to £36.7 million.
“Expenditure on audio-visual information” is up 36 per cent,
including £6.7 million for Europarl TV, a television channel highlighting
the work of MEPs with only 830 daily viewers.
The parliament is also pressing ahead with the creation of a controversial £70
million “House of European History”, celebrating the EU, at a cost
of £18.9m next year.
The parliament is also seeking to increase public funding for the activities
of artificial EU political parties.
Contributions for political “foundations” will increase by 9.8 per
cent despite the parliament’s own internal auditor identifying serious
problems with the funding.
Under the proposals, funding for parties, such as the federalist European
People’s Party, will rise to £244 million.
Marta Andreasen, a Ukip MEP and former whistle-blowing chief accountant at the
European Commission, dismissed the spending rises as “unnecessary and
unwarranted”.
“Ignoring the financial suffering of the public and increased spending on
PR will do nothing to counter the valid accusation that the EU institutions
live in a hugely expensive ivory tower,” she said.
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