Europe's top justice chief today told of her horror after thieves broke into her official car and stole her luggage - including a cottage pie.

Viviane Reding, vice chancellor of the European Commission and EU Justice Commissioner, was taking part in a high-profile debate at the Royal Institution in Mayfair last night, only to return to find her personal luggage had been pinched from the boot.

Despite several items of clothing, jewellery and make up disappearing, Mrs Reding was most upset by the theft of a pie bought from a London farmers’ market.

She said: “I got it to show people how good British cooking is. I just hope that at least they eat it and don’t throw it away.”

The 62-year-old, from Luxembourg, added: “It will be really difficult to replace the clothes, jewellery and make up. My earrings have been on pictures worldwide. They might not be valuable but they are original and recognisable. The person who wears them should be aware of that.

“It is the first time I have had my bag stolen and I travel all around the world. They left my papers fortunately. It is a real pain in the neck.”

The official European Commission car had been left unlocked in Albemarle Street and the suitcase containing a box of official papers was the only luggage left behind.

EU officials hosting the vice-president were said to be embarrassed by the theft and hope CCTV can help catch the perpetrators. However, a Met spokesman last night said they had yet to make an official report of the theft.

Just before the debate Mrs Reding publicised her whereabouts on Twitter, posting: “Happy to be in London and not just for the scones. Join me for a debate about Europe and its future today at 2pm.”

A link advertising the location of the event, in Albemarle Street, was posted shortly afterwards. She used the debate to claim Britain’s politicians and voters were judging the EU on “emotion not facts”.

The event in Mayfair was one of a series of “dialogue” events the Commission is holding in cities in every EU country, giving “ordinary people an opportunity to speak directly to EU politicians about the kind of Europe they want to live in”.

Ms Reding, who is the EU’s Justice Commissioner, is seen as a controversial figure by many British politicians and last year ruled out any change to the EU free movement rules ahead of the lifting of controls on Romanians and Bulgarians.

She also has ambitions to be the president of the European Commission.