Would this explain why the BBC is so pro-EU?

The BBC's pro-EU stance is well documented, not least on this blog, but the reasons are not always clear. The love of supranational bodies that can dispense with democracy in favour of 'we know best' statism is part of the explanation but as ever 'follow the money' has a part to play. I have posted before about the EU funding that the BBC has received but The Telegraph has a very interesting piece o the same matter, here's an extract:

'The BBC received millions of pounds from the European Union and local authorities over the past four years, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

The news prompted MPs to raise questions about the BBC’s impartiality when its journalists report on events in the EU.

The BBC admitted in a letter to a Tory MP that it has received nearly £3million in grant money from the European Union over the past four years.

Other grants totalling £16million came from local authorities across the UK. The money was spent on "research and development projects".

The broadcaster also disclosed that its commercial arm BBC Worldwide borrowed over £141million from the European Investment Bank since 2003. Of that figure £30million is still due to be repaid by the end of May this year.

These figures are disclosed in the commercial arm’s annual report, while the BBC's annual report does not make clear where the grant money comes from. '

Should the BBC be made to declare a finacial interest every time it reports on the EU? Maybe a Eurosceptic MP or MEP could raise this subject with the BBC the next time they are being called a Little Englander or part of a 'right-wing, viscerally Eurosceptic fringe'.

The whole Telegraph report is well worth a read, the BBC is not worth the licence fee.