EUROPEAN Council president Herman Van Rompuy has defended his use of official cars to bring his family from Brussels to Paris and back during his summer holiday.
His spokesman described as “superficial” reports that he brought seven close family members — including his wife, children and grandchildren — in two chauffeur-driven vehicles to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.
On their return to Paris from holidays they were also taken home to Brussels by official motorcade. “It happened on the request of our security staff. Herman Van Rompuy did not ask for that treatment, it was only for security reasons,” his spokesman said.
Mr Van Rompuy did not stop being president of the European Council when on holidays, he added. Although the transportation “was in his usual armoured car”, the spokesman said there was a second car as well as security officials decided that family members and their luggage should be protected.
The episode has been characterised in Brussels as a lapse of judgment by Mr Van Rompuy, who has carefully cultivated an image of contemplative restraint since EU leaders chose him to take charge of the European Council almost a year ago.
“It’s not appropriate,” said Olivier Hoedeman, research and campaigns co-ordinator at Corporate Europe Observatory, a transparency group. “It seems like he is indeed using privileges that he has as president for personal purposes. The security argument is far-fetched.”
EU commissioners are not allowed use official vehicles for family purposes and requests for exceptions to rules have been turned down in the past, it is understood. Officials in other EU institutions pointed out with some relish that Mr Van Rompuy resides not far from the main Brussels railway station where high-speed trains to Paris are frequent.
Asked whether Mr Van Rompuy should have taken the train, the spokesman said “he went to Paris several times on the train” but felt he had to comply with security measures on this occasion. That was the reason “and not anything else”, he added.