The EU chief with two cars and an usher in tailcoats
Martin Schulz, the EU's counterpart to John Bercow, accused of 'setting a bad example' by hiring 35 staff, as European Parliament's accounts come under criticism
He is Strasbourg's answer to 'Two Jags'.
Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, has been accused of extravagance for his private office of 35 and two official cars.
Mr Schulz, a German socialist whose position is akin to that of John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, has a private office that includes a speech writer, two personal drivers, four foreign affairs advisers and a personal usher – a tailcoated aide who helps him to receive guests and briefs him on events.
MEPs said his employment of 35 staff at a time of austerity was “highly questionable” and “sets a bad example”.
The criticism comes in a report of the European Parliament’s accounts for 2013 by MEPs, which was approved before the summer holiday and published in the EU’s official journal last week.
It “questions the availability of two service cars for the President of Parliament”.
It warns that a lack of control on spending is eroding public trust in the institution, which has a €1.7 billion (£1.25 billion) a year budget.
The report “questions the availability of two service cars for the President of Parliament”. Separate statistics show the Parliament spent €6.9 million on transport last year, including maintaining a fleet of cars and even bicycles to ferry MEPs and senior officials around Brussels and Strasbourg. A source close to Mr Schulz said his office was smaller than his predecessors, and said the two cars were needed because it would not be possible to have only one driver while at the same time following laws on rest time.
David Campbell-Bannerman, a Conservative MEP, said: “When the public are having to tighten their belts, the president is living the life of Riley. Our renegotiation must ensure the cost of the EU is significantly slashed.”
The report found a €3.5 million deficit in the catering budget and said it was “deeply worried” that €17.8 million was spent publicising the European election in 2014, only for turnout to slump. A further €448,000 was spent on the Lux Prize – an award ceremony for European cinema modelled on the Oscars.
Some €5.7 million was spent on foreign trips and parliamentary delegations for MEPs, including a single visit costing €493,000. The committee called for a “more economic structure”.
It warns that a quarter of voters have a “very negative image” of the parliament due to spending. “Therefore structural improvements, for example full transparency and the accounting of the general expenditure allowance, are needed to improve trust and support for Parliament.”
It also raises the alarm over two issues that have dogged Westminster politics: second jobs and expenses.
The report recommends the creation of a public database – similar to that in the Commons – setting out all the “on-the-side” work conducted by MEPs.
It also calls for “more precise rules regarding the accountability of expenditures” under MEPs’ controversial regime of expenses, that allows cash to be claimed without receipts.
The Parliament’s pension fund, meanwhile, faces a deficit of €197 million, triggering warnings of an early exhaustion of capital. “It is ultimately impossible to judge whether the Fund is being run efficiently and properly,” it noted.
It also called for an end to the practice of subsidised tour groups being handed cash directly from the parliament, which poses a "high reputational risk and significant security risk".
On paper, Mr Schulz’s job is akin to that of John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons.
However, he appears to play a far more public and politically-charged role than his British counterpart, as the Parliament plays an increasingly powerful role. He regularly holds private audiences with European heads of government and frequently gives public addresses – including with Recep Erdogan, the Turkish president, yesterday.
The parliament's support will be essential to pass any legislation the British renegotiation demands.
However, Mr Schulz was fiercely critical of Mr Cameron’s reforms following a meeting in Downing Street in May, accusing him of being driven by “outright lies” about migrants and “national resentment”.