By Martin Banks - 3rd September 2010
I am the first aware that parliament´s hunger for spending has no limit
Marta Andreasen
The EU has been accused of launching an expensive drive to "control" European journalists.
It comes after the publication of new data which, it is claimed, shows the extent to which the EU goes to entertain, train and 'inform' journalists.
The statistics reveal that more than €8m was spent by the EU on journalists last year alone.
Details of the spending come as the commission has just launched a major new communications drive aimed at beefing up its public image.
This involves commission president José Manuel Barroso giving an annual state of the union address.
It could also see him effectively having 24 hour coverage by photographers, film teams and journalists and the provision of four speech writers.
The data was released by the UK-based eurosceptic think-tank Open Europe, which says it was sourced from the EU's own 'financial transparency system' for 2009.
An Open Europe spokesman said, "Given that it's the commission's job to promote 'ever closer union', using taxpayers' money to wine and dine journalists clearly represents a conflict of interest.
"The special attention paid to Irish journalists in the run-up to Ireland's Lisbon treaty referendum looks suspiciously like the commission trying to buy favourable news coverage.
"Using taxpayers' money for this kind of propaganda exercise is completely undemocratic and wholly unacceptable."
On the amount spent on Irish journalists in the run up to last December's referendum on the Lisbon treaty, he added, "This calls into question the commission's promise to keep a neutral position on national elections and referendums."
British Ukip MEP Marta Andreasen said, "As I sit in the budget committee I am the first aware that parliament's hunger for spending has no limit, but wasting money on journalists' entertainment reveals not only contempt for European taxpayers but a disgraceful lack of ethics.
"I am fighting for a significant reduction on the EU 2011 budget and I will certainly make sure that these abuses never happen again."
The full breakdown of the latest figures on expenditure on journalists shows:
• In 2009, at least €8.14m was directly spent on entertaining, training and 'informing' journalists with €2.6m spent on transport, accommodation and sustenance
• At least €351,800 was spent on Irish journalists and Lisbon-related seminars in 2009, possibly in the run up to the referendum
• In 2009, at least €710,000 was spent on journalism competitions and prizes, all of course orientated around EU areas of interest
• €7,500 was spent on two cocktail parties
• €12,218 was spent on USB sticks for journalists in Spain
• One meal at the Radisson hotel in Uruguay titled only "lunch with journalists" cost a total of €363, which in local money would be worth approximately three months rent on a flat in the capital Montevideo
• In 2010, the commission also allocated €500,000 for a feasibility study on a possible new scheme named Erasmus for journalists which aims to "enhance the training" for "journalists working for EU publications and electronic media, particularly young journalists" by funding an exchange scheme between member states
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