23 out of 29 flights: Von der Leyen is responsible for almost all private flights of the European Commission

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen flew on a private jet 23 times last year. This puts her far ahead of the 27 EU commissioners.

The Commission as a whole only managed 29 such flights in 2023, according to a document requested by EU politician and left-wing leader Martin Schirdewan and available to the DPA news agency. According to a code of conduct for committee members, private aircraft may only be used in exceptional cases. Spiegel reported this earlier on Thursday.

“It is a shame”

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, traveled by private plane only twice during that period, the newspaper found. According to the list, Von der Leyen traveled three times by private plane between Brussels and Strasbourg, the two seats of the EU Parliament, in 2023.

There are train connections that take less than five hours to cover the route. The Code of Conduct for Commissioners states: “All options, including alternative timetables, should be carefully considered so that air taxi is only considered as a last option.”

“It is a shame that the President of the Commission is still dependent on private planes in the face of the climate crisis,” Schirdewan told the newspaper. Commissioners and their staff are not allowed to fly to destinations that can be reached within six hours by train. “Calling people who have little money to save energy, but flying from A to B in a private jet is risky.” (SDA)

Source: Blick