Adoption of the statute of European Members

PURPOSE: To adopt the Statute for Members of the European Parliament

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision of the European Parliament of 28 September 2005 adopting the Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

CONTENT: The Statute defines the general conditions governing the performance and the duties of Members of the European Parliament. Their main rights and responsibilities have been defined, inter alia, as:

-         Members are to act freely and independently.

-         They are to vote on an individual and personal basis and are not to be bound by any instructions nor are they to receive a binding mandate.

-         Each Member is entitled to table proposals for Community acts within the remit of Parliament’s right of initiative.

-         They have a right to inspect any Parliamentary files.

-         Parliamentary documents will be translated into all of the EU’s official languages and speeches will be interpreted simultaneously into all of the other official languages.

-         Members are allowed to form political groups.

-         They are entitled to an appropriate salary as well as an appropriate transitional allowance and pension at the end of their term of office. The amount of salary will be 38.5% of the basic salary of a judge at the European Court of Justice. Any salary received for the exercise of a mandate in another parliament will be offset against the salary. In addition, the salary will be subject to an EU tax.

-         Former Members are entitled to an old-age pension as from the age of 63. The pension will be for each full year’s exercise of a mandate, 3.5% of the salary and one twelfths for each further full month, but not more than 70% in total. Moreover, the entitlement shall exist irrespective of any other pension. Members who have become incapacitated during their term in office are entitled to a pension.

-         Members will be entitled to insurance cover for the risks connected to the exercise of their mandate. Similarly, they are entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred in the exercise of their mandate. This applies to the actual travelling expenses incurred. As for any other expenses incurred in the exercise of their mandate, they will be reimbursed by means of a flat-rate sum.

-         Members are entitled to a personal assistance, which they are free to choose themselves. Parliament will meet the expenses incurred by employing their personal staff. Other entitlements include access to Parliamentary facilities such as offices, telecommunications and official vehicles.

-         All payments derive from the EU’s budget and are made monthly in Euros or, (upon a Member’s request), in the currency of the Member State where he or she is domiciled.

-         Members who belonged to Parliament prior to the entry into force of this Statute and were re-elected may opt for the national system applicable hitherto in respect of the salary, transitional allowance and pensions for the entire duration of their membership of the European Parliament.

-         Members who wish to continue with the national system must notify Parliament within 30 day of the entry into force of this Statute.

-         The voluntary pension fund will be maintained after the entry in force of this Statute. Acquired rights and future entitlements shall be maintained in full.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: The Statue enters into force on the first day of the European Parliament parliamentary term beginning in 2009.