Sunday, June 29, 2008

Riding the EU Gravy Train

Here’s an enlightening video made by Hans-Peter Martin and RTL about the lavishly parasitic Members of the European Parliament. Some of the MEPs were caught by the investigative team checking into the parliament building on a Friday morning just long enough to register their presence and collect their generous per-diem allowance before heading off for home.

The report is in German with English subtitles:


Most of the MEPs caught by the camera crew displayed the furtiveness appropriate to those who have been caught in a shameful act. But some respond with the angry arrogance of the seasoned apparatchik: “You miserable worm, how dare you come in here and monitor my activities!”

In a typical EU response, when the corruption and malfeasance of high officials is exposed, the strategy is to attack the journalists, hide the facts, and suppress public coverage. It’s similar to the way the Netherlands is tackling Islamization: by cracking down on blogs that criticize Islam.

Here’s more information about the video, taken from the blurb on YouTube :
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A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in Brussels earns approx. 14,700 euros per month (~£11,587) [~$24,000], according to this RTL Report… How much the MEPs have to work (or don’t work) for their €14,700 is the subject of this on-site RTL investigation in Brussels. The video is about MEPs who sign in on attendance lists and then disappear immediately for their weekend. RTL investigating journalists were thrown out of the EU building in Brussels during their work.

Some MEPs try to justify themselves, some to invent excuses, again others flee before the camera and dash off to lifts or also in their confusion bump into the wall (German MEP of the Green Party)!

One-man crusader Hans-Peter Martin, MEP from Austria: “A Member of the European Parliament earns on an average more than the German Chancellor Frau Merkel and one wants to hide this from the electorate. Therefore, one obviously must get rid of reporters investigating this.”


Hat tip: Steen.

8 comments:

Zenster said...

All that was missing were "oinking" sounds as those MEPs jostled at the trough.

Anonymous said...

Why shouldn't they be arrogant? It's not as if they can be voted out of office.

IgnorantInfidel said...

Could calling someone an MEP be a universal insult for a previous post Their own Medicine

spackle said...

And the difference between them and Politburo members is?? I especially love the "Green party" MEP. She may think globally but is definitely acting locally. Local being her pocketbook.

babs said...

As Randian said, this kind of behavior is typical for those that can't be voted out of office. What total pigs...

How many in the EU actually see this on their TV's? If I were a middle income wage earner in the EU it would make me wild! Better yet, a worker in one of the poorer countries...

Henrik R Clausen said...

And the difference between them and Politburo members is?

Russians used to be paid much less.

But I think you're missing something here. The Politburo would me more suitably compared with the EU Commission, not the Parliament.

The 'Supreme Soviet' (or however their mock parliament was named) is more appropriate to compare with.

Panipal2005 said...

The Youtube video is seemingly no longer available...anyone got an alternative link please?

Henrik R Clausen said...

Video works fine for me...