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Does an MEP earn too much?

Under the pretext of too high a salary, the French and German governments have defeated a single statute for deputies. The less than rosy underside of a poisoned question...

(Archives B2) The remuneration of deputies always arouses fantasies. They earn too much say some. Everything depends on the price that we attach to democracy, retort the others. In fact, this question is, above all, a matter of transparency. Currently MEPs do not all earn the same salary. And by far.

While they perform the same work, are subject to the same obligations, their salary remains paid by their State of origin. Between a Hungarian who earned a gross salary of 2003 euros in 761 and an Italian – the best paid – who earns nearly 11 euros, there is a margin! And while the Spaniard “painfully” crusts at 000 euros, the Englishman gives himself 3 euros. Social security contributions and tax are also paid by MEPs in their State of origin. Which has the art of making the income of deputies the most unequal and opaque system there is.

End the mess

Since 1979, when the European Parliament was elected for the first time by universal suffrage, everyone has agreed that this mess must be put to an end. For more than twenty years, ministers and parliamentarians have been struggling to establish a single statute. A few days ago, we were close to the goal. An agreement was reached. Each MEP would receive a single salary, paid from the Community budget. The amount being set at half the salary of a magistrate of the Court of Auditors, or approximately 9000 euros gross in 2004. Tax and social security contributions would be the same for everyone. At the end of the month, there would remain a little more than 5 euros for each deputy. Quite comfortable! In return, Parliament would further tighten the screw on costs, the reimbursement of which will no longer be a lump sum (as for travel). Retirement would be set at 500. Yes, but...

German hypocrisy

At the last moment, the German government released its veto. While he had so far said nothing, he considers the amount granted to deputies too high. This sudden moral sense has a reason: the “Bild”. This newspaper, whose sulphurous reputation is well established, indeed intervened in the battle, shouting haro on the privileged. A catchy argument. But the reality is less rosy. It was in fact certain German deputies who secretly waved this red rag. They feared... the reduction of their privileges.

The grandfathers are resisting

Indeed, for them, the increase in salary does not compensate for the possibility of escape that gives them today the expense reports, ultra-favorable retirement conditions – at age 55, keeping two-thirds of the salary with almost no contributions. In short, the German grandfathers are resisting. And some governments are following. Starting with the French who press, in turn, on the brake pedal. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, to whom the file went up, decided personally. In the name of Franco-German friendship, the Prime Minister considers it wiser not to decide anything before the elections. The saying "courage let's flee" has struck again. A great lost opportunity. Under the pretext of fighting against the excessively high salary of deputies, and rather than lowering it, the opacity of the system and a dangerous inequality are preserved. Beautiful hypocrisy!

Nicolas Gros-Verheyde, in Brussels

MP salaries vary by country

Country

euros

Hungary

761

Slovakia

888

Latvia

980

Lithuania

1 183

Malta

1 210

Rep. Czech

1 300

Poland

2 075

Estonia

2 458

Spain

3 055

Portugal

4 024

Cyprus

4 080

Slovenia

4 155

Finland

4 541

Sweden

4 985

France

5 206

Luxembourg

5 316

Denmark

5 555

Greece

5 600

Belgium

5 668

Ireland

5 984

Netherlands

6 467

Germany

7 009

United Kingdom

7 107

Austria

8 750

Italy

10 975

The gross salary of an MEP (by country, over twelve months – 2003 figures)

(Source European Parliament)

What an MEP receives today (French)

European deputy. A nice future. Candidates, get ready. The lists are not closed. Maybe a chance. But how much will you earn?

Salary

A (French) MEP earns like his counterpart in the National Assembly, ie 5388 euros gross in 2004 (amount based on the average of non-class civil servants) from whom some social security contributions must be withdrawn, ie 5026 euros net. This amount is subject to income tax like employees.

Expenses

The costs are harmonized at Community level and paid by the European Parliament, on the basis of the sums actually incurred, on presentation of supporting documents. Gone are the good times of the 1980s and 1990s when almost anything was allowed! But comfort remains assured...

Travel costs.

A lump sum travel allowance to cover travel costs to official meetings of Parliament (in Strasbourg) – reimbursement being made on the basis of a normal economy class ticket without restriction (code YY) or at the rate of 0,66 cents / km in the event of a train or car journey. In addition, a subsistence allowance: 262 euros per day. Warning ! Signing the attendance register is mandatory. And for the free riders, who leave as soon as the signature is signed, the compensation can be reduced by half for the deputies who have not participated in at least half of the votes during the plenary sessions.

An additional travel allowance: 3 euros maximum per year. Intended to cover travel around the world in the exercise of the mandate to assist.

overhead costs

An allowance of 3 euros per month (on proof) to cover postage and telephone costs, documentation, IT, etc...

The remuneration of a secretariat: 12 euros per month maximum to recruit one or more assistants. In order to prevent any drift, remuneration is now paid either directly to the assistant or to a third party (the party for example) charged by the MP with managing a pool of assistants. To fight against the temptation of fictitious employment or nepotism, the deputy must declare to the office of the assembly the assistants that he engages. The names of the assistants are also public, available on the internet. The expenses incurred by the Member for his collaborators can be reimbursed directly, on proof.

Warning ! A declaration of financial interests is required of each Member. It is public.

(source / European Parliament – ​​National Assembly)

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Published in France-Soir, February 2004

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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