Robert Sturdy

Strasbourg, 8th June 2011 — ‘Totally unacceptable’ proposals adopted by the European Parliament today, which will see the next long-term EU budget increased by five percent, rebates scrapped and EU direct taxes, have put MEPs on a collision course with national governments, Robert Sturdy, Conservative MEP for the Eastern Region said today.

The position endorsed today by the full parliament calls for a five percent budget increase on the last seven-year budget, a system of EU direct taxation, a financial transaction tax, abolition of national rebates, and an end to returning unspent EU money to national governments.

Britain, France, Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands have already submitted a joint letter to the European Commission stating that the next long-term budget must reflect national governments’ efforts to bring their spending under control.

Conservative MEPs voted strongly against the proposals.

Mr Sturdy said:

“As national governments across Europe are attempting to cut their deficits, the European Parliament is asking them to pay tens of billions more into its coffers.”

“We need smarter spending, not more spending, but unfortunately for most MEPs the answer to every question is more Europe and more money. “

“As if calls to increase the budget by 5% weren’t bad enough, the European Parliament has added insult to injury by demanding the power to raise its own taxes. Apart from the fundamental issue of loss of national sovereignty, we cannot allow MEPs to have any powers to raise taxation given their record of waste.”

Ends

For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294