The European Commission’s president, Jose Manuel Barroso, spent more than twice as much on official travel in 2012 as the EU’s chief diplomat according to newly-released figures.
Mr Barroso spent €649,000 (£518,000) on globe-trotting, including visits to his native Portugal, while Baroness Ashton, the foreign policy chief, clocked up bills totalling €281,000 (£224,000).
In total, European Union commissioners spent €3.4 million on travelling in 2012 and €3.3 million the following year.
The figure doesn’t include staff costs, covering office fees, accommodation and travel and subsistence only.