Debates

Tuesday, 22 October 2019 - Strasbourg

Discharge 2017: EU general budget - European Council and Council (debate)

  Michael Heaver (NI). – Mr President, I’ve always said the European Union is world class at one thing – wasting money, and this discharge report rather makes the point again.

In 2017, the EU Council spent EUR 100 000 on a relaxation chair and EUR 20 000 on the rental of a shooting range. It spent EUR 35 000 taking its staff and children on a subsidised trip to a theme park and spent EUR 55 000 on a big party where staff could enjoy a 3—course dinner and dance the night away with a taxpayer—funded open bar until 3 am.

In 2018, the EU Council spent EUR 115 000 on bottles of champagne. Do the British people really want to funnel another 30 billion plus into the European Union’s coffers for a new European treaty or do they want to take back control? I say ‘enough’. I say let’s take back control of our money with a clean break Brexit.