Critics slam 'Herman's Egg'

Planned new Council of Europe building: photo - press release

The cost of the futuristic building being built near the Schuman roundabout in Brussels has risen from the originally planned 240 to 327 million euros, which critics say shows that the EU is not making the austerity cuts it demands from member states, at a time of finance crisis within the eurozone.

“This project was a waste of money from the start,” says UK Conservative MEP and former European commission chief accountant Marta Andreasen.

"Sadly the maxim of 'make do and mend' does not seem to apply to the bloated Brussels bureaucracy nor Van Rompuy who wants a new palace to work in."

Critics say that the current council HQ is only 20 years old and there is no need for a new one.

An insider at the European Council's president's office has told parliament.com, however, that “I do not know about the alleged increase in budget but the facts are that this new building was agreed long before the president took office. It is not due to open until two years after he has left office next summer.

"It is, therefore, quite outrageous to say that he wants a 'new palace' to work in," the source said. (pg)