Despite financial straits, EU spending millions on paid holidays

For months officials have been championing the need for greater fiscal discipline and cautioning taxpayers that sacrifices were an uncomfortable necessity to restore Europe’s fiscal health. Apparently, they they talk better than they walk.

Characterized as “study visits,” the London Telegraph reports the European Union has been using millions of taxpayer dollars to finance holidays for members of the European Parliament.

The paper cites one example of a “trip to Strasbourg” that was “promoted by the Labour MEP Peter Skinner, lasted six days, with only a few hours spent at the parliament.” In the greater budgetary scheme, the trips may not amount to much. However, they certainly undermine the EU’s efforts to reclaim the confidence of the taxpayer.