PRESS RELEASEWEST MIDLANDS MEP MIKE NATTRASSIssue Date: Tuesday, November 6 2012EU accounts 'fail' to come of age at 18West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass is demanding answers from Eurocrats following today’s news that the EU budget has failed to get a clean bill of health for the 18th year in a row.The UKIP MEP says at a time of economic austerity it is “scandalous” that the EU continues to be gripped by corruption and waste.European Union auditors today said the 2011 EU budget showed billions of euros are still being wasted every year.The European Court of Auditors (ECA) found “too many cases” where EU money was “not hitting the target” or being used “sub-optimally”.Their report, which was due to be outlined today by ECA President Vitor Caldeira, showed shocking examples where;
- Subsidies for land claimed as “permanent pasture” when actually parts of it were “densely forested”.
- Training specially intended for employees in the electronics sector being given to employees from other sectors.
- Recipients of development aid not respecting the rule of origin when purchasing equipment; and
- Public procurement procedures designed to ensure best value for money not being properly applied.
Commenting on the report, UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass said: “At a time of economic austerity it is scandalous that people’s money is wasted and mis-used. To add insult to injury the European Commission is demanding increases in spending.“The report should come as no surprise as this is now the 18th time that the EU’s accounts have failed to get a clean bill of health.“Eurocrats need to get their EU house in order but their house is like a stacked deck of cards full of jokers. That house would start to fall if the British people got their say through a straight in-out referendum on Europe .“It is time to pull out of this wasteful EU beast and manage our own affairs in Westminster .”ENDS
FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONCALL CRAIG WINYARD, MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGERFOR MIKE NATTRASS MEP, ON 0121 333 7737 OR 07881 660941.
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