Speaking at a news conference ahead of the official opening, the Italian MEP hit back at criticism of the cost and delays that have blighted the cultural showpiece.
The €7m annual running costs will be met from the Parliament’s budget, it has emerged.
Tajani told reporters,“There is no waste of taxpayers’ money here. Nor can it be said that a museum is poor use of public funds if you are investing in culture and the education of our children.”
He added, “It is not just a budgetary matter. We should not try to save on culture - this is the most important thing you can steal - and this money has been put to good use and is not being thrown out of the window. We are duty bound to put EU money to good use and, in this, we are doing that.”
Tajani said, “The museum is not a propaganda tool but an investment in education and culture. This will give children and future generations a better understanding of our European heritage.”
He was backed by the man behind the museum, Parliament’s former President Hans-Gert Poettering.
The former EPP group MEP, speaking at the same news conference in the museum, said, “The Parliament has paid for the cost of its construction but the ongoing costs will be shared by the Parliament and the Commission.”
He said former Commission Oresident José Manuel Barosso had agreed that the Commission should take part in the ongoing costs.
He added, “In future, I’d like to see the council also involved and make a financial contribution too but a decision is yet to be taken on this.”
“It took 10 years to build and I am often asked if this is a very long time. But if you see the development of history 10 years passes quite quickly.
“The plan was to open the museum in 2014, the centenary of the start of WW1 but there were a few delays. It has been difficult but finally we managed in the end.”
The museum, located in the Eastman Building in Brussels’ Leopold Park, focuses on recent European history. It is an ambitious project that the European Parliament first announced in 2007.
It has been mired in controversy for years, not least over the costs.
The Commission is thought to have contributed €800,000 to the cost while Parliament originally earmarked €31 million to renovate and extend the Eastman building, a former dental institute, and over €21m for the permanent exhibition.
An additional €3.75m was allocated to build up the collection.
Former German deputy Pottering said he had wanted to build a place in which “the concept of the European idea can continue to grow.”