European Council President Charles Michel defended himself against recent criticism over his frequent and expensive trips, many of which are with private jet, citing the international context’s significant change over the past three years as the reason.
Michel, who was prime minister of Belgium before his EU stint, has already seen his 2024 budget – which is currently being discussed – increase by 27.5% compared to 2023, Politico reported last month.
His travel expenses and those of his staff for next year are reportedly more than a third higher than what they are budgeted for 2023, and almost four times higher than what his predecessors, Donald Tusk and Herman Van Rompuy, spent.
This increase is partially due to Michel travelling by private jet, the French newspaper Le Monde reported on Sunday.
The climate cost of his trips has also been highlighted by some, including Belgian Green MEP Saskia Bricmont.
In light of the latest report from the UN’s International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), “it is not normal to continue travelling by private jet,” Bricmont told Le Soir. The MEP asked that Michel’s travel budget be limited.
Michel’s budget should also be discussed by parliament during a plenary session in May and is likely to spark debate – notably among the socialists and the greens – several Belgian news media reported.
His budget has also been criticised by nine member states, including Germany, Italy and Poland, who also asked Michel for “clarifications” during a meeting on 9 March.
A different context
Michel and his spokesman, Jurek Kuczkiewicz, have underlined during different interviews this week that the international context has changed significantly over the last three years. As European Council President Michel has to travel to remote places on short notice, which can lead to cost increases.
“In this unstable context, it is important for the EU to play its international role. Like when Charles Michel was the first to get Chinese President Xi Jinping to tell that he would not supply arms to Russia. Was it a useless trip? I don’t think so,” Kuczkiewicz told Le Vif. Besides that, inflation can also explain the increase in costs, he added.
According to Michel, his trips are part of the mission he has been entrusted under the EU treaties, Michel said in an interview with RTL. His spokesman added that the European Council chief has also been doing his main task under his EU mandate, which is to “strengthen the role of the EU on the international scene”.
Moreover, Council officials implement and check the trips over whom Michel has no power. There is “full transparency” on the rules and the budget, as Michel’s expenses are also available online.
An attempt to destabilise Michel
“It upsets some diplomats to see the Council acting on its own in the international arena. This unjustified wave of criticism against Charles Michel is perhaps also linked to this,” the spokesman said.
Michel also takes this criticism as “an attempt to destabilise or intimidate” him on the one hand, and the Council, on the other, he told several news media, adding that he prefers being criticised for doing “too much” than “not enough”.
“Everyone has noticed that war has erupted. Everyone has seen that there are more missions by the Commission, by the High Representative [for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell], by the President of the Council and the Council delegations because it is necessary for the European Union not to [be passive and endure the] events but to defend our interests,” Michel said on RTL.
He said these attacks against him could come from candidates who want to take his seat and who therefore want to throw shade at him.
(Anne-Sophie Gayet | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
