Europe to demand inflation-busting budget rise But confidential documents, seen by the Daily Telegraph, disclose that, in terms of their own budget, MEPs are more preoccupied with their public image than the economy. Despite the worst economic crisis since 1945, the parliament wants a 24 per cent increase in spending on "communications" and spin doctors. Panic is growing in the parliament over looming European elections in 2014 after voter turnout fell to a record low in 2009 amid swings to Eurosceptic parties. Martin Schulz, the parliament's president, admitted last Friday that most members of the public view MEPs as "superfluous, useless human beings." In a bid to win over a hostile public, the parliament's overall propaganda budget will rise over 20 per cent to £36.7 million. "Expenditure on audio-visual information" is up 36 per cent, including £6.7 million for Europarl TV, a television channel highlighting the work of MEPs with only 830 daily viewers. The parliament is also pressing ahead with the creation of a controversial £70 million "House of European History," celebrating the EU, at a cost of £18.9m next year. The parliament is also seeking to increase public funding for the activities of artificial EU political parties. Contributions for political "foundations" will increase by 9.8 per cent despite the parliament's own internal auditor identifying serious problems with the funding. Under the proposals, funding for parties, such as the federalist European People's Party, will rise to £244 million. Marta Andreasen, a Ukip MEP and former whistle-blowing chief accountant at the European Commission, dismissed the spending rises as "unnecessary and unwarranted." "Ignoring the financial suffering of the public and increased spending on PR will do nothing to counter the valid accusation that the EU institutions live in a hugely expensive ivory tower," she said.