Activites

• #X016
• 2002/04/15 Council Meeting
• #2379
• 2001/10/29 Council Meeting
• #2316
• 2000/12/04 Council Meeting
• #2308
• 2000/11/20 Council Meeting
• #2286
• 2000/09/18 Council Meeting
• #2271
• 2000/06/13 Council Meeting
• #2264
• 2000/05/22 Council Meeting
• #2249
• 2000/03/20 Council Meeting
• #2232
• 1999/12/06 Council Meeting
• 1999/10/27 Additional information
• 1999/10/01 Final act published in Official Journal
• 1999/05/05 Interim resolution adopted by Parliament
  • T4-0397/1999 summary

    The Parliament adopted its Resolution, drafted by Mr. Willi Rothley (PES, D), concerning the Statute for Members of the European Parliament. The Parliament confirmed the resolution on this subject that it adopted on 3 December 1998. It notes that there are fundamental differences of opinion with the Council and considers it essential that respect for the principle of equality between Members, which is the basic principle underlying a uniform Statute, be enshrined therein; in addition, it notes that negotiations with the Council must continue on questions associated with the criteria for determining the parliamentary allowance, the pension scheme, the practical arrangements for reimbursement of expenses actually incurred and the procedure to be followed for reviewing the Statute. The EP considers that it is essential to preserve the retirement rights and entitlement to pensions acquired by Members and former Members of Parliament before the entry into force of the prospective Statute on the basis of national schemes and Parliament's rules. The Parliament notes that according to the case law of the Court of Justice of the EC, the duty of sincere cooperation also applies to the Council. It instructs the Working Party set up by paragraph 6 of its 3 December 1998 Resolution to pursue the negotiations on the Statute of 3 December 1998; it hopes to reach an agreement so as to be able to take the decision referred to in Article 190 (5) of the EC Treaty before the end of 1999 and, if possible, by the end of this parliamentary term.

  • OJ C 279 01.10.1999, p. 0161-0171
• 1999/05/04 Debate in Parliament
• 1999/05/03 Committee interim report tabled for plenary
  • A4-0267/1999
• 1999/05/03 Committee interim report tabled for plenary
  • A4-0267/1999
  • OJ C 279 01.10.1999, p. 0017
• 1999/04/28 Committee draft report
  • PE230.783/B
• 1999/04/28 Document attached to the procedure
  • SEC(1999)0655
• 1999/04/27 Document attached to the procedure
  • 07528/2/1999 summary

    DRAFT STATUTE DRAWN UP BY THE COUNCIL : The Council reached agreement on the main elements of an overall compromise on the draft Statute for Members of the European Parliament. The compromise taking as its starting point an agreement in principle on a standard parliamentary allowance, to be paid for out of the Community budget, of EUR 5 677 per month, representing an average of the current national allowances, focuses on the solution of the main outstanding problems, namely: - the legal basis: Article 190(5) of the Treaty constitutes an adequate legal basis for all aspects whose incorporation in the Statute for Members of the European Parliament is contemplated; - taxation: the principle of imposing Community taxation on the parliamentary allowance and on other income and emoluments disbursed by the Communities should be laid down in the Statute. However, the option is open for Member States to impose additional national taxes on the income of Members coming under their national taxation systems. Member States which wish to take up this option must state their intention before the final adoption of the Statute by the European Parliament. The sums thus raised in national taxation should preferably be paid over to the budget of the European Communities. The Statute should also cover the following: incompatibilities, the independent mandate, immunity, verification of credentials and validity of mandate, vacant seats, substitution, reimbursement of costs actually incurred by Members, end of service allowance, retirement pension, invalidity pension, survivor's pension, sickness, pregnancy and accident cover and a register of Members' interests.

• #2173
• 1999/04/26 Council Meeting
• 1998/12/03 Interim resolution adopted by Parliament
  • T4-0700/1998 summary

    DRAFT STATUTE ADOPTED BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT The European Parliament adopted the report drafted by Mr. Willi Rothley (PES, D) on the draft Statute for Members of the European Parliament. The actual vote on the resolution resulted in little change to what was adopted in Committee. The PES/ELDR compromise amendment which deals with the reimbursement of expenses, would mainly allow the transfer of the amounts payable as salary and contributions, not only directly to assistants but also to a 'third party'. Furthermore, this compromise amendment does away with the reference to the adaptation 'once per legislature' of the amount of the reimbursement. The vote on the draft Statute for Members of the European Parliament confirmed the text adopted by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights concerning the establishment of a specific transitional regime with regard to parliamentary allowances for the period of the legislature following the adoption of the Statute for Members of the European Parliament. Of the other amendments adopted, those which specify the incompatibilities with the office of Member of the European Parliament and which provide that each Member State can lay down the incompatibilities that apply at national level. It is also specified that Members are elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of five years and that only EU citizens have the right to be elected. As far as the annex to the Statute for Members is concerned, the members confirmed that the amount (5 677.22 euro) of monthly salary to be paid to them. An amendment specifies, furthermore, that this amount will be adjusted on an annual basis. Of the amendments rejected by the plenary, those relating to the pension regime, in particular, should be noted. The EP rejected an amendment abolishing the voluntary pension scheme at the end of the fourth legislature. In addition, it rejected the amendments that sought to modify the means of paying into this fund. An amendment from the Green Group asking that Members pay the entire contribution was dismissed. Moreover, an amendment calling for Members to pay one-third and the Parliament two-thirds of the contribution was rejected. As a result, it was the Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights Committee's text providing for an equal contribution from Members and from the Parliament that prevailed. The plenary rejected an amendment stating that once the Statute was adopted that the Parliament would have to adopt a statute for assistants. The plenary also rejected the provision according to which the European Parliament was called upon to adopt rules of conduct concerning the financial interests of Members. The draft Statute in the annex to the report was also adopted. Its main provisions are: A) Parliamentary allowance: - Art. 1: Members elected to the European Parliament for the first time shall receive a monthly parliamentary allowance, payable in advance, of EUR 5677.22. This amount shall be equivalent to the annually updated average parliamentary allowance received by all Members from the national parliaments at the time of the adoption of the Statute. Theparliamentary allowance shall be subject only to the tax payable to the European Communities. - Art. 2: Re-elected Members may opt to receive the parliamentary allowance pursuant to Art. 1 or to retain the national parliamentary allowance paid hitherto; Members failing to notify the President of the EP within 30 days after assuming office of their decision shall receive the parliamentary allowance pursuant to Art. 1. After the elections in 2004, all Members will receive the same allowance paid from the EU Budget. - Art. 5 provides that any remuneration or pension derived from membership of another parliament or a public office shall be offset. At the end of his/her term of office, a Member whose pension is not yet payable shall be entitled to an end-of-service allowance; this entitlement shall continue for one month per year in which membership of the EP has been exercised, but not for less than six months or more than 12 months. B) Pension: payable from age 60. The amount of the pension shall be, for each full year in which the MEP was in receipt of the parliamentary allowance corresponding to his/her duties, 3.5% of the parliamentary allowance, up to a maximum of 70%. Pension payments to which a former Member is entitled in respect of membership of another parliament which has run simultaneously with membership of the EP shall be deducted from the pension, as shall the parliamentary allowance for the exercise of membership of another parliament. Art. 8 provides that the pension fund set up by the EP on a voluntary basis shall be maintained until the end of the parliamentary term following the adoption of the Statute for Members who opt for the national parliamentary allowance. The contributions shall not be subject to any tax. C) Travel expenses: questions relating to the reimbursement of expenses are dealt with in the body of the resolution. Members are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses on the basis of costs incurred to cover business-class tickets for air travel and first class journeys for rail. Travel to and from the Member's home to the airport or station is also covered. For journeys by car, a rate per kilometer travelled may be reclaimed. This entitlement covers travel undertaken to attend official EP meetings, travel authorised by the competent body in accordance with the regulation and all other travel undertaken in the exercise of a Member's duties, with a limit of 3000 euros per year. D) For general expenses incurred in the exercise of duties, Members receive a monthly sum of EUR 3 262 and a daily allowance for each day that they genuinely exercise their duties as Members at official EP meetings. Once per parliamentary term, these lump sum amounts will be reviewed bearing in mind price movements. The Member is also entitled to 9 596 euros per month for assistances. This amount is indexed annually to the cost of living in the Union. The Parliament transfers the salary and contributions directly to the assistances or to third parties concerned, social security organisations, tax departments and professional organisations.

  • OJ C 398 21.12.1998, p. 0011-0024
• 1998/12/02 Debate in Parliament
• 1998/11/17 Committee interim report tabled for plenary
  • A4-0426/1998
• 1998/11/17 Committee interim report tabled for plenary
  • A4-0426/1998
  • OJ C 398 21.12.1998, p. 0003
• 1998/10/23 Committee draft report
  • PE228.308
• 1998/09/18 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading

Documents

• Committee draft report: PE228.308
• Committee interim report tabled for plenary: A4-0426/1998
• Committee interim report tabled for plenary: A4-0426/1998
• Committee interim report tabled for plenary: OJ C 398 21.12.1998, p. 0003
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0700/1998
• Interim resolution adopted by Parliament: OJ C 398 21.12.1998, p. 0011-0024
• Document attached to the procedure: 07528/2/1999
• Committee draft report: PE230.783/B
• Document attached to the procedure: SEC(1999)0655
• Committee interim report tabled for plenary: A4-0267/1999
• Committee interim report tabled for plenary: A4-0267/1999
• Committee interim report tabled for plenary: OJ C 279 01.10.1999, p. 0017
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0397/1999
• Interim resolution adopted by Parliament: OJ C 279 01.10.1999, p. 0161-0171

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)