Nieuw compromis over salaris EP-leden in de maak (en) - Hoofdinhoud

STRASBOURG / EUOBSERVER - A new deal to straighten out MEPs' pay and expenses appears likely to be approved next month, with the European Parliament keen to boost its public image in the wake of the French and Dutch no votes.

Member states informed parliament on Sunday (5 June) that they would agree to fix wages at €7,000 a month and to ensure that delegates' expenses are paid on a real cost rather than a flat rate basis.

The move would iron out current disparities in pay, which see Italian MEPs rake in about €12,000 a month while some eastern European colleagues pocket just €800 per month.

The new wage levels will be subject to the EU's own nominal income tax levels, but member states can opt to top-up tax in line with national rates, which could reintroduce large differences in delegates' take-home pay.

The so-called Members Statute would also block MEPs from claiming back the cost of first class airline tickets for professional trips while travelling on a cheaper ticket - which is legal under current rules.

The deal includes pension contributions of some €1,600 a month on top of the salary, with the European Parliament covering the pensions fees and member states footing the wage bill.

The agreement also covers transitional arrangements that would allow member states to keep on paying MEPs according to the current system for up to two European Parliament terms.

The European Parliament is aiming to vote the text through in the July plenary.

The new rules would enter into force from 15 June 2009 if all goes well, bringing to an end some ten years of wrangling on the subject.

Image needs a boost

"This issue has created one or two image problems in the past", parliament president Josep Borell told the legal affairs committe in Strasbourg on Monday (6 June).

"Imagine what the reaction of the media and of our citizens will be, if it is said that the council wanted this [statute] and we did not. It would not be a peaceful one".

He added that "there is broad consensus across the groups" to push the new rules through under the Luxembourg presidency, which will cede way to the UK in July.

Centre-right Italian MEP and Members Statute rapporteur Giuseppe Gragani noted that the parliament must "strive to define its role in the current circumstances" following the recent referendums.

The idea was echoed by German centre-right MEP Klaus-Heiner Lehne, who called the bill a "huge step" toward improving the way the parliament is seen in member states, as well as "a small contribution to improve the image of Europe" as a whole.

Some MEPs indicated they were sick of talking about the subject and expressed relief that the debate seems to be coming to an end.

But the new pay deal still has its sceptics at both parliament and member state level.

"If I was a trade unionist and I came up with something like this, I would be stoned to death", independent Italian MEP Enrico Speroni argued, while Mr Gragani noted that France, the Netherlands and Sweden opted to abstain from the member states' new common position.

"I think that's a rather pessimistic note", he said.