Posted, April 27, 2012 @ 12:00
The think tank Open Europe has today published a report which "fact-checks" claims made by the European Commission on Wednesday in support of its demands for a 6.8 per cent increase in the EU's budget in 2013.
Among other things, it demonstrates that despite claims to be tackling the EU's unwieldly administrative budget, the Commission's plans involve the net loss of just six jobs.
Richard Ashworth, leader of the UK's Conservative MEPs, welcomed the Open Europe study and said: "The Commission's justification for its budget demand does not stand up to scrutiny.
"Commissioners are paying lip service to the subject of staff cuts rather than seriously looking to slim down the EU's hefty payroll.
"To present a net reduction of just six jobs as a tough re-examination of staffing levels is no way to gain credibility - expansion or no expansion.
"Rather than looking for a seven per cent increase, the Commission should be looking to do what every national government, every local authority, every business and indeed every family in Europe is doing - and that is to cut its spending to fit the times we live in."