Leaving a sour taste: EU foreign office wants to fork out £2MILLION on a new silver dinner set for Brussels chiefs

  • Revealed in a tender document from European External Action Service  
  • 3,360 place settings alone will cost around 2 million euros (£1.39m) 
  • All the plates and dishes will include a motif of a ring of stars in gold 

By Lydia Willgress for MailOnline

Published: 04:42 EST, 18 July 2015 | Updated: 10:27 EST, 18 July 2015

The European Union's foreign office is planning on forking out £2million for a dinner set that can feed 3,360 people. Above, EU headquarters

The European Union's foreign office is planning on forking out £2million for a dinner set that can feed 3,360 people. Above, EU headquarters

The European Union's foreign office is planning on forking out £2million for a dinner set that can feed 3,360 people.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) has sent a tender document listing the items it is hoping to acquire to potential bidders.

It includes place settings worth around 2 million euros (£1.39m), as well as dinner plates, soup bowls and ice cream dishes. 

The plan was last night slammed by one Conservative MEP, who criticised the organisation for its money-handling skills.

Geoffrey Van Orden told The Telegraph: 'If we need further confirmation of the pretensions and aspirations to grandeur of this organisation, this dinner service is it.'

The tender not only lists how many of each item the organisation requires, but also sets out exactly how the service should look.

It states the silverware, which includes cutlery for fish courses and dessert, should be 'simple, with a discreet decorative element or a raised motif'.

It must also be manufactured from 'top quality, silver-plated metal' and even states to what thickness the silver plating should be.

Other significant costs include 450,000 euros (£314,000) on crystalware including glasses for wine, water, whisky, champagne, brandy and sherry. 

Plates and dishes, featuring a motif based of the European logo including a ring of stars in gold, will also be commissioned under strict guidelines. 

The tableware, costing 550,000 euros (£384,000) will be white with gold edges in a 'round, sober and classical design'.  

Geoffrey Van Orden (pictured), a Conservative MEP, slammed the EEAS' plan to purchase the dinner set

Geoffrey Van Orden (pictured), a Conservative MEP, slammed the EEAS' plan to purchase the dinner set

EEAS, which has a budget of 630 million euros (£437m), serves as a foreign ministry for the EU. 

The dinner service, which will cost around £623 per person, is expected to be used for officials and foreign guests. 

MailOnline has contacted EEAS for comment but has not yet received a reply.   

WHAT DOES A £2MILLION DINNER SET INCLUDE?

EEAS has asked for up to 3,360 whisky glasses

EEAS has asked for up to 3,360 whisky glasses

The tender document lists exactly how many of each item EEAS are looking at getting made. 

It includes:

  • 3,360 sets of dinner plates, soup plates and ice cream dishes
  • 3,360 sets of glasses for wine, water, whisky, champagne, brandy and sherry 
  • 3,360 place settings (knives and forks) 
  • 280 salad sets 
  • 140 sets of cake knives, soup ladles, sugar tongs and serving trays 
  • 140 ice buckets 
  • 420 salt cellars 
  • 280 candelabras 
  • Pie dishes 
  • Salad bowls 
  • Coffee pots 

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