Press Release - 14th November 2007

GLOBAL VISION CONDEMNS EU INDIFFERENCE TO WASTE

In response to the news that the EU's Court of Auditors have refused to sign off the EU's accounts for the 13^th successive year, Global Vision condemned the endemic waste, errors and fraud within the system.  

The Court of Auditors stated that there were weaknesses across the board, complaining of persistent neglect and presumed attempts at fraud in the EU's €106bn annual budget. The Court attributed many of the problems to a poor understanding of complex rules.

The Court estimated that the share of the budget that could be approved has risen in recent years from 6% three years ago to around a third last year and just over 40% this year. But even with these improvements it is clear that over half of the EU's budget, around €60bn, cannot be approved. Of Britain's £10½bn annual gross contribution, £6bn is, therefore, vulnerable to waste and fraud.     

Ruth Lea, Director of Global Vision, said,

"Yet again the EU gives the impression that it simply does not care about how it squanders the taxpayers' money. Under these circumstances it is particularly worrying that, not only is the EU's budget increasing, but the UK's net contribution is set to double in forthcoming years. The EU should learn to spend its current resources wisely and honestly before insisting on higher funding."