EU Commission president under fire for using private jet too often

Brussels [Belgium], March 1: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen flew by private jet 23 times last year.
This puts her far ahead of the 27 commissioners, with the commission as a whole only taking 29 such flights in 2023, according to a paper requested by European Parliament member and Germany's far-left Die Linke party leader Martin Schirdewan and obtained by DPA.
According to a code of conduct for commissioners, private aircraft should only be used in exceptional cases.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell travelled by private plane only twice during this period, according to the paper.
According to the list, among von der Leyen's flights by private jet in 2023, there were three between Brussels and Strasbourg, the two seats of the parliament.
There are train connections that take less than five hours for the journey, Schirdewan told German news magazine Der Spiegel in comments published on Wednesday.
The Code of Conduct for Commissioners states: "All options, including alternative scheduling, should be carefully considered so that the air taxi is only considered as a last resort."
"It is a disgrace that the Commission President is still relying on private planes in the face of the climate crisis," Schirdewan told Der Spiegel.
Commission members and their staff should not be allowed to fly to destinations that can be travelled to by train within six hours, he said.
"Calling on people with little money to save energy, but flying from A to B in a private jet yourself is brazen," Schirdewan told Der Spiegel.
Source: Qatar Tribune