MEPs have finally agreed on a new system of pay and expenses ending years of disparity among representatives of members states. The new regime agreed today will make little difference to Irish MEP’s pay and is intended to end controversy surrounding expenses claims.
The new regulations will take effect after the next European Parliament elections in 2009 and will see all MEPs receive €84,000 a year plus expenses.
Currently member states decide on the representative’s salaries. In Ireland, MEP’s are paid €87,247 - the same as TDs and will therefore lose a relatively small amount.
The change is in response to the wide variations in pay among MEPs since the accession of ten mainly poorer states at the start of the year. For instance, Italy pays its representatives €11,000 per month while Hungary pays only a little more per year.
The Italians resisted the change and as compromise it was agreed that member states cold defer making the change for a further ten years.
The key change to the pay regime, though, is in the claiming of expenses. The new system requires all expenses to be receipted. This is particularly important for travel expenses which MEPs currently can profit on by travelling economy but claiming for business class.
There has also been considerable controversy over whether MEPs were claiming the expense without travelling at all. Austrian Hans-Peter Martin bickered publicly with fellow MEPs after he claimed some of them claim expenses of up to €100,000 annually.
He also said many MEPs claimed their daily allowance for being in Strasbourg on Friday despite the parliament not sitting. He maintained they signed in first thing in the morning and then went home.
The daily allowance of €268 remains as does nearly €200,000 per annum for offices and staff.
MEPs aggree new pay and expenses regime
MEPs have finally agreed on a new system of pay and expenses ending years of disparity among representatives of members states. The new regime agreed today will make little difference to Irish MEP’s pay and is intended to end controversy surrounding expenses claims.
The new regulations will take effect after the next European Parliament elections in 2009 and will see all MEPs receive €84,000 a year plus expenses.
Currently member states decide on the representative’s salaries. In Ireland, MEP’s are paid €87,247 - the same as TDs and will therefore lose a relatively small amount.
The change is in response to the wide variations in pay among MEPs since the accession of ten mainly poorer states at the start of the year. For instance, Italy pays its representatives €11,000 per month while Hungary pays only a little more per year.
The Italians resisted the change and as compromise it was agreed that member states cold defer making the change for a further ten years.
The key change to the pay regime, though, is in the claiming of expenses. The new system requires all expenses to be receipted. This is particularly important for travel expenses which MEPs currently can profit on by travelling economy but claiming for business class.
There has also been considerable controversy over whether MEPs were claiming the expense without travelling at all. Austrian Hans-Peter Martin bickered publicly with fellow MEPs after he claimed some of them claim expenses of up to €100,000 annually.
He also said many MEPs claimed their daily allowance for being in Strasbourg on Friday despite the parliament not sitting. He maintained they signed in first thing in the morning and then went home.
The daily allowance of €268 remains as does nearly €200,000 per annum for offices and staff.