Greens concerned over car loans for Irish EU presidency

The European Parliament's Green Party members have raised concerns about the loaning of vehicles to EU member states for official duties at a time when negotiations concerning new vehicle Co2 limits were underway. Cars were loaned for official duties under the EU Presidency of five nations, including Ireland, since 2012. The other nations are Denmark, Greece, Lithuania and Cyprus.

"Of course, a direct conflict of interest is always hard to prove, but it can certainly be said that some German car producers have good timing when it comes to donations and sponsorships" Rebecca Harms, co-president of the Greens, the fourth largest group in the European Parliament, said. The Greens are especially vexed by the loaning of cars by German giants Audi and BMW at a time when strict new Co2 laws were being promulgated, and which German car makers and the German government were robustly resisting.

Marcella Smyth, a spokeswoman for the Irish presidency, said that in attempting to create "a cost-effective presidency a combination of contracts, including those for the loaned cars, had saved a total of €1.4 million." Ms Smyth also added that public transport had been both used and encouraged and that the cars used had been primarily for airport transfers for ministers. Representatives from the other nations mentioned have also said that they abided by strict sponsorship rules and that such arrangements were common.