Unusual Presents in Brussels: Exploring the Bizarre Realm of European Parliament Gifts
Get a load of this: the European Parliament's gift trophy case is jam-packed with some real head-scratchers! TheEnumerable Scandal involving tech titan Huawei has kicked off a debate about gifts and donations received by EU lawmakers, raising eyebrows across the old continent.
So, who gets to reap the rewards of these, ahem, acts of kindness? Well, MEPs often find themselves on the receiving end, but wrapping your hands around something too lavish could land you in hot water. According to EU regulations, any gifts valued over €150 must be surrendered to none other than Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who acts as the ultimate gift cop and sometimes reluctant recipient.
But Metsola isn't the only one cashing in on these curiosities – the collection includes some downright weird and wonderful items, from a traditional Indonesian 'Keris Luk 7 Pandawa' dagger (not part of the EU's defense budget, thankfully), to a space-traveled European Union flag that's ventured far beyond our atmosphere. A cheeky Italian singer named Stefano Picchi even sent Metsola a keepsake CD, complete with song lyrics and a chord booklet – in case the Maltese president ever embraced her rockstar side.
And if you're a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, brace yourself: Picchi submitted a track for the competition as a tribute to the late President David Sassoli, hoping it would find its way onto the stage. Unfortunately, Picchi didn't make the final cut, but Metsola and the rest of us will forever have the tantalizing taste of what could have been.
In the realm of "modern art," MEPs have also been gifted a nude female figure reproduction from Cyprus, reminiscent of an ancient idol from the Pierides Museum. There's also those trusty, old-school portable radios, from the European Commission's emergency kit, to Irish music rights organizations gutting their collections of vinyl replacements. So, while vinyl might be all the rage, radios are still pulling their weight.
Sports enthusiasts will find their fix, too, with Roberta Metsola mingling with theSpanish national women's football team, donning a signed jersey before they went on to conquer the World Cup. A Dinamo Kyiv shirt, from Ukraine, and a commemorative set from the European Parliament's own rugby team are also part of the collection.
When it comes to swag, some things never go out of style. Alcohol remains at the top of the list, with MEPs quenching their thirst with bottles of Scotch whisky, Bordeaux wine, and French champagne. For those seeking more cultured fare, there's a buffet of traditional instruments from Portugal, Moldova, and Morocco, decorated shelves brimming with keychains, pins, and enough paperweights to sink a battleship.
So next time you're feeling like a gift-buying slump, take a cue from the EU Parliament and aim for something as original as a nude idol or a piece of space history. Cheers to quirky diplomacy!
Fun Facts:- The European Space Agency gifted Metsola a flag that had been to the International Space Station.- Italian singer Stefano Picchi submitted a Eurovision track as a tribute to the late President David Sassoli.- The European Parliament has a collection of traditional musical instruments, including a viola braguesa, a Moldovan kaval, and a Moroccan Arabic lyra.
- The European Parliament's gift collection includes an unexpected range of items such as a nude female figure reproduction reminiscent of an ancient idol from the Pierides Museum.
- In addition to the traditional Indonesian 'Keris Luk 7 Pandawa' dagger and a space-traveled European Union flag, the collection holds items like a signed jersey from the Spanish national women's football team.
- Not only can you find cultural artifacts and sports memorabilia in this collection, but also traditional musical instruments from Portugal, Moldova, and Morocco.
- items like a viola braguesa, a Moldovan kaval, and a Moroccan Arabic lyra are part of the European Parliament's collection, showing the embrace of different cultures and the arts in diplomacy.
