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France accused of overcharging E.U.

Batuk Gathani

Paris inflated rent for buildings

London: There is increasing concern among European taxpayers over the expenditure incurred for the functioning of the European Union Parliament, which sits both in Brussels, Belgium, and Strasbourg in France.

The monthly shifting of the Parliament venue from Brussels to Strasbourg costs the taxpayers Euro 105 million. Outraged European parliamentarians have demanded an end to this "travelling circus" after it was disclosed that French authorities had "siphoned off" Euro 150 million during the past 25 years by inflating the rent for the Parliament buildings built by French real estate companies.

The Parliament meets in Strasbourg 12 times a year, as per the provisions of a treaty signed with the French Government. According to media reports, the "scandal of rent overcharging" may be referred to the French police.

Strasbourg crisis

It is estimated that Euro 2.7 million was overcharged last year alone and between 10 and 40 per cent since 1979. It is assumed that Parliament has been overcharged on the purchase of two main buildings bought for Euro 450 million in 2004.

European parliamentarians are normally based in Brussels and have tried to bring an end to the so-called "Strasbourg crisis" when 732 parliamentarians, 300 staff members and a fleet of lorries filled documents descend on the French city for four days a month. The parliamentarians are not sure how this can be discontinued but there is no way out of the treaty obligations with the French authorities either.

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