Eurocrats pay hike: Budget block call

Wednesday, 24th November 2010

Marta Andreasen, UKIP MEP and former European Commission chief accountant has poured scorn on the European Court of Justice decision to grant a full 3.7% pay rise to Eurocrats.

"It is appalling, but only to be expected, these are Eurocrats you know," she said.

"While the European Parliament and the Council squabble about the EU's budget there is no money for these pay rises. So this blows a hole in the whole EU budget process. David Cameron has to block this pay rise as the whole 2.9% rise of the entire EU budget agreed by him is ignored by this judgement. This pay rise will break that agreement. What will he do about it?

"The Court is blind to the financial anguish that is affecting millions across the Continent, but they just don't care. The Eurocrat trade unions have spent the morning crowing about their victory, and are now demanding that the rises be backdated, which is just rubbing salt into the wounds of the general public.

"In these times of crisis for countries across the EU, for Ireland, for Portugal, for Greece and for the hard-pressed taxpayer it ill serves Eurocrats to be awarding themselves pay rises, whining that their purchasing power has dropped. They must be blind, stupid or just arrogant. Everybody's purchasing power has decreased, largely because of a crisis created by the single currency.

"Worse still the judges who have made this decision are themselves going to beneficiaries of their decision. Conflict of interest anyone?"