The official audit of the European Union shows that £109 billion out of the £117 billion total of EU spending in 2013 was "affected by material error”.
Of this, £5.5 billion of last year’s budget was misspent because spending controls were deemed to be only “partially effective” by experts.
This makes the 19th year in which the audit, conducted by the European Court of Auditors, has not been signed off.
The audit concluded that the European budget needed better management at a time of “continuing pressure on EU and national finances”.
“More can and should be done to ensure money is spent according to rules,” it said.
Just one example of misspent money was funding for helicopters to help Spain defend Europe’s borders against entry by illegal immigrants.
“[Auditors] examined a project in Spain which consisted of the purchase of four helicopters, to be used 75% of their operating time for EU border surveillance and control. However, the ECA found the helicopters were only used 25% of the time for this purpose,” said the report.
Little wonder perhaps that the EU suddenly demanded £1.7 billion from the UK.
It does not seem unreasonable for an organisation which demands accurate accounts from its 28 members to meet the same standards. With accounts that its auditors have refused to sign off for nearly two decades, the time appears to be well overdue.
