EU wastes taxpayers' Rs 1.4 crore on comics

A comic book portraying two fictional European Commission (EC) bureaucrats as humanitarian heroes battling to save the world is being sent to schools and homes at a cost of u00a3200,000 (Rs 1.4 crore) to the taxpayer

A comic book portraying two fictional European Commission (EC) bureaucrats as humanitarian heroes battling to save the world is being sent to schools and homes at a cost of 200,000 pounds (Rs 1.4 crore) to the taxpayer

More than 3,00,000 copies of Hidden Disaster are being dispersed across the UK and Europe, but the comic has drawn criticism from several quarters.

Selling like hot cakes? Three lakh copies of the comic have been distributed in UK and Europe

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Taxpayers' Alliance, said, "It is deeply immoral to use taxpayers' money to promote the EU to children. This is pure political propaganda,u00a0 which is a tactic of corrupt regimes."

"The EU seems to think it can buy itself popularity, but instead it simply makes itself look more wasteful."

However, an EC spokeswomanu00a0 defended its decision to publish the comic. "Part of our legal obligation is to increase public awareness and understanding humanitarian issues," she said.

Story line

The hardback graphic novel was written by Belgian author Erik Bongers. It follows Zana and Max, two employees at the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department as they try and raise money for Borduvia, a fictional state that has been devastated by an earthquake.

Zana, who wears a safari jacket with a EU flag on it, is sent to Borduvia to manage the humanitarian crisis.

A local charity worker Tesjang takes her to the worst-hit region of Kellow, that is run by rebels.u00a0 The rebel leader at first refuses her offer of aid. But Zana delivers a spirited response that is sure to leave children across Europe enraptured. She says, "In tragedies like this, international solidarity is normal."