Internal figures paint a colourful picture of the life of luxury enjoyed by members of the European Parliament. Dozens of jollies to the United States, Brazil, Indonesia and even North Korea make up an extraordinary list of planned overseas “missions” in the coming months. Taxpayers will pick up a tab of £5.1 million for a total of 87 trips, which range from fact-finding and cultural visits, across the next five months.
As well as MEPs, an army of officials and interpreters are sent on the trips to assist the politicians in their vital work.
The eye-watering spending is on top of the annual £60 million already handed to MEPs to help them with their commutes to and from work.
In May, nine MEPs will spend £122,416 on a five-day visit to the United States’ technology hub Silicon Valley.
Details of the trip, submitted to EU Parliament budget bosses who sign off on the expenses, claim they “could look into digital market developments, e-commerce opportunities and challenges in relation to development and further use of AI, consumer protection, online platforms and the sharing economy”.
The members of the institution’s Internal Markets Committee adds: “It would be worthwhile to visit this high-profile hub for digital companies and technological innovation.”
Last month the EU Parliament’s International Trade and Home Affairs committees both undertook trips to Washington DC at the same time, costing EU taxpayers £240,456 for 16 MEPs.
A fact-finding mission to Pyongyang, North Korea for six MEPs on the EU Parliament’s delegation to the communist state in May will cost £63,657.
Most outrageously, a six-day trip to Santa Fe, Argentina for 75 MEPs, 17 officials and 12 interpreters will set back the public a total of £617,905.
Amongst the activities planned, some will attend a “Civil Society and Women Forum” while others hold meetings on security and trade.
The figures have come to light at a time when the EU is embroiled in a bitter row over the bloc’s next seven-year budget.
Leaders face further rows as they attempt to plug the £68 billion blackhole best by Brexit in Brussels’ financial coffers for 2021-2017.
An EU diplomat told Express.co.uk: “It’s quite astonishing. For months during the top jobs campaigns, we heard the EU should focus where it matters, where it adds value.
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“Zero fiscal responsibility and the voters will not forgive them. This level of waste, twinned with the EU’s intransigence in trade talks, will only increase hostility towards the project.
“We are witnessing the beginning of the end for the EU. They should enjoy their jollies whilst they still can.”
Express.co.uk has contacted the European Parliament for comment.