The General Secretary of the European Taxpayers Association, Michael Jäger, has criticized EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) for a 19-minute flight in a private jet.
Von der Leyen traveled on this route from Vienna to nearby Bratislava in June.
In an interview with "BILD", Jäger described the short-haul flight as an "ecological sin".
"It cost a lot of tax money, a lot of time to get to and from the airports and above all: a lot of credibility."
The CDU member of the Bundestag Jana Schimke also warned the former defense minister: “If you want change, you have to set an example.
Otherwise you will be implausible. "
A spokesman for the EU Commission justified the flight to the newspaper: “With departure and arrival in Belgium, the President's trip took seven countries in two days.
Alternatives were examined, but logistically there was no other option ”.
That same evening von der Leyen flew to Riga in a private plane.
"In addition, there were concerns about using scheduled flights or trains due to Corona."