Brussels paid nearly £190,000 towards a Shaun the Sheep Xmas special among its lavish spending

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A report disclosed that more than 50 EU grants were handed out to media production companies making documentaries, films and even cartoons – including some with a slant that promoted the work of the EU.

Projects funded by the Creative Europe initiative, backed by the European Commission, included a film about a climate change activist and an animated series about alien squirrels.

Money from the project helped develop a controversial BBC drama about what life could be like in Britain if the country quits the EU.

The lavish spending was exposed in a report from the Taxpayers’ Alliance pressure group last night.

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the alliance, said: “Another day, another prime piece of evidence that Brussels bureaucrats simply do not understand the value of taxpayers’ money.