Britannia Radio

23 March 2009 More Trouble With EU Money - And a Little Progress The farcical charade of the European Parliament having some real control over the EU’s profligate spending goes on.  But last week, at the penultimate meeting of the Budget Control Committee before the June elections, we managed to cause a small train wreck with the EU's 2007 accounts. Despite the permanent built-in majority in favour of the “European project”, as they choose to call it, members managed to delay approval of the 2007 accounts of the EU’s police college in Berkshire, and of the Fundamental Rights Agency (which is still to be legalised by the Lisbon Treaty).  Much more information was demanded from both agencies.  The police college has been wildly extravagant with public funds, while the Fundamental Rights Agency faces accusations of fraud which OLAF is now investigating.  Two whistleblowers within the agency are on so-called ‘sick leave’, including an internal auditor who has been absence for 18 months. “Discharge” (the EU word for approval) of the 2007 accounts from the office of the EU’s foreign minister Javier Solana (quaintly named the High Representative) also ran into trouble.  Mr Solana had previously refused the European Parliament access to his office’s annual accounts.  Under the Lisbon Treaty, if it becomes EU ‘law’, billions of euros could be spent on EU foreign policy without anyone ever knowing.  Even the federalists on the committee at last agreed that establishing public scrutiny was crucial. The committee had already found inconsistencies in the budget of the European Council, to which it has turned a blind eye for the past 30 years.  Now it has finally woken up and demanded an inspection of Solana's accounts. Solana and his administration are believed to have spent about 650 million euros in 2007.  The Lisbon Treaty would allow Solana to build up the EU’s planned diplomatic service.  It would cost billions to operate every year, which would all disappear unless the principle of parliamentary scrutiny was firmly established beforehand.   To respond to, or comment on this Email, please email ashley.mote@btconnect.com You have signed up to receive these notifications.