VIENNA / BRATISLAVA – Vienna and Bratislava are very close, reachable by train in just an hour. This is why the move of the President of the EU Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, who decided to take this short journey … with a private jet, has aroused numerous criticisms.

The trip took place last June 21, but has now reached the headlines as the policy has expressed itself strongly in favor of climate protection during the summit in Glasgow (Cop26), where it even spoke of 21 as the “year European railways “and” a responsibility that concerns everyone “.

The German newspaper Bild, which was the first to report the incident, reports that the trip caused the emission of about 1,130 kg of CO2.

“There were no other options”
One day of Von der Leyen soon explained the reasons for the trip: «The President has been in seven countries in two. Alternatives were considered, but logistically there were no other options. The same evening, then, the Von der Leyen flew from Bratislava to Riga, on the same plane ».

The pandemic has also given us a hand, for the spokesman: «There were to read about the use of flights or trains due to the coronavirus. The crew of the private jet, which made six flights, was instead regularly tested ».

“Credibility to the nettles”
Justifications that, however, do not convince everyone.

Michael Jäger, Secretary General of the European Taxpayers Movement, harshly criticized the President: “This flight will ultimately be more expensive for Von der Leyen. Primarily because it cost taxpayers a lot of money, but above all because it costs them a lot of credibility. This short-haul flight is truly an ecological sin ».

Even the German MP from the CDU, Jana Schimke, told the Welt newspaper: “If you want change, you have to do it yourself. Otherwise you become unreliable ».

Chain reaction
A scandal that soon became available: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also came under fire for the same reason.

According to the Daily Mirror, in fact, the Prime Minister returned to London, from Glasgow, aboard a private jet, to participate in a non-institutional dinner. Although Johnson’s staff clarified that “given his commitments, the options for many are limited” and that “this does not change the series of government commitments”, the opposition has already launched: “Hypocrite”.