The EU spends over €100 billion of our money. But, for fear of making itself unpopular, it makes the national governments do the taxation. For the 'citizens' of Europe the EU just gives. And it knows how to publicise its giving: every road, building, training course has the appropriate wording to make you feel what a marvellous thing it is.
And how well is this money spent? Well, for the thirteenth year running the Court of Auditors has refused to approve the accounts. It has approved of about 40% (up from 33% last year, the Commission boasts, so it must be doing the right things!) leaving something like €60 billion which is subject to error, poor accounting or fraud. One of the favourites this year is that now agricultural subsidies are being doled out on the basis of the agricultural land area rather than production, they are being claimed by golf clubs and railway companies.
And yet we tolerate it. Why? Because the political class won't allow too much argument in case the thing unravels. As Daniel Hannan points out in the Telegraph: it's a racket - a mechanism for redistributing wealth to people who, directly or indirectly, are on its payroll. We need one country to refuse to pay its contribution until the accounts are in proper shape.
Don't hold your breath.
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