EU Budget

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed a Brussels commitment, secured through strong pressure from Liberal Democrat MEPs, for stricter monitoring of the way the 27 national governments spend EU taxpayers' money.

The Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) group in the European Parliament have long been demanding that Member States produce annual statements of their EU budget spending. Today the European Commission made a commitment to ensure that these reports would not only be submitted but made public.

The Court of Auditors, the EU auditor, has issued a negative report for seventeen years in a row due to the unacceptably high error rate, in national accounts, of EU money received and spent.

Sarah Ludford commented:

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has joined a majority of MEPs in again demanding a single workplace for Euro-MPs instead of the absurd trek between Brussels and Strasbourg that they are currently condemned to because of decisions by the 27 EU governments.

MEPs made the call during a vote on the EU's spending in 2010. A single seat for the European Parliament in Brussels would save around £145 million (€180 million) a year on the EU budget. 

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the endorsement by a majority of MEPs for the European Parliament to end the 'travelling circus' to Strasbourg in favour of one permanent seat which would be in Brussels.

Voting on EU budget guidelines for 2013 MEPs also decided to freeze their own allowances until mid-2014 and cap their travel budget at its present level in line with their demand that all EU institutions cut their administrative spending.

Sarah Ludford commented:

"MEPs must tighten their own belts. But to ensure taxpayers are getting maximum value for money we need an independent evaluation of the EU budget to point up scope for cuts."

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford is calling for the European Parliament to freeze MEPs' allowances until the end of the legislature in 2014 as well as to seek freezes on travel costs and administrative spending in all EU institutions.

Commenting ahead of tomorrow's vote in the European Parliament on the 'guidelines' for the EU's budget in 2013 Sarah Ludford commented:

"At this time of national austerity the EU's budget also needs to be shaken up to get rid of waste. MEPs must lead the way in tightening our own belts. Freezing our allowances and capping our travel budget at its present level is a good start."

Liberal Democrat London MEP Sarah Ludford has called for the blocking of plans by European Parliament bosses known as the 'bureau' to spend £26 million (€30 million) on improving MEP offices in the Parliament's Strasbourg building.

The Parliament is currently obliged under the EU treaties - fixed by the 27 national governments - to sit in both Brussels and Strasbourg in a 'travelling circus'. But in June a majority of MEPs voted in favour of maintaining a single seat in Brussels which would save 19000 tonnes of CO2 every year as well as a great deal of money given that the estimated cost of maintaining Strasbourg is €180 million a year.

Sarah Ludford said:

Sarah Ludford MEP sets out her response to the government's proposal to re-nationalise EU regional funding calling for a continuing EU approach to find solutions to common problems.

"The UK government's proposal for EU regional policy"

A response by Baroness Sarah Ludford Liberal Democrat MEP for London

EU Enlargement

Liberal Democrats welcome the enlargement as an historic opportunity whilst acknowledging the challenges this enlargement brings to internal cohesion as disparities within the Union widen. Future EU citizens in the accession countries have voted resoundingly for security prosperity and an entrenchment of their democracies in the community of human rights and the rule of law.