After undergoing several attacks in the recent past, the European External Action Service finds itself criticised once more for using budget support. Belgian ECR MEP Derk Jan Eppink pointed out that Tunisia and Egypt received around €60m and €100m respectively in budget support and argued that these funds “should never have been given” in this form. Additionally, in a recent report, Karel Pinxten of the European court of auditors described EEAS budget support as a ‘particularly problematic area’.

Attacks are not limited to budget support, but also include questions about Catherine Ashton’s managment style and the large amounts of money her organisation spends. “It seems to me she has failed to have a grip on the management and structure of the organisation, a major reason why the EEAS is unable to deliver”, said Eppink. Additionally, he points to an annex in the EU staff regulations which allows the EEAS to spend large amounts of money to send its staff on holiday to exotic locations.

Additionally, concern has been voiced also by ECR MEP Ryszard Czarnecki, the party's budgetary control spokesman and rapporteur for the EEAS discharge report. He asked about the practical measures undertaken to ensure better synergies between the EEAS and DEVCO given that cooperation so far leaves to be desired. “I am also very worried that there might be insufficient oversight of the management practices within EEAS delegations across the world which have given rise to reports of significant mistakes in procurement procedures and taxation management”, he added.

• The Parliament