MEPs face fingerprint tests / Deputies face biometric testing to stop expenses ‘fiddling’

Exclusive By Martin Banks

Date: 18/12/03

MEPS may soon be subjected to biometric tests, such as fingerprinting or iris recognition, in a bid to stamp out false claims for attendance allowances.

The potentially controversial move comes amid growing concern that some members are abusing the system by signing in at the European Parliament to collect their attendance fees, without actually staying for any of the debates or votes.

This fiddle is known as the "so-so" system, short for "sign-on, sod-off", in Strasbourg jargon, on the grounds that some members register their presence, then immediately head back to the airport.

It is thought that some deputies do not even bother to turn up at all, and simply ask their assistants to sign their name in their absence.

But a confidential report by the assembly's finance director general, Roger Vanhaeren, recommends a clampdown on the system, with the possible introduction of biometric tests.

The report, seen by European Voice, says: "There ought to be a system for electronic authentication of a member's signature or presence.

"Biometrics solutions - involving verification of digital fingerprints, hand morphology, iris pattern or signatures - are relatively straightforward to handle, fairly inexpensive and very reliable."

Information from such tests would be fed into the Parliament's database which is used to draw up travel and expense statements.

"This system ought to be usable both in Parliamentary meetings and at the central register," it says.

At present, members can sign a central register to establish their presence at Parliament in order to qualify for the daily allowance in cases where they have not signed the attendance register at a committee or group meeting.

The register, set up in 1997, is kept in an open room opposite the members' cash office in an area set aside solely for MEPs.

The report, sent to the Parliament's quaestors who are responsible for day-to-day administration, explains why action may be needed to tackle potential abuse of the current system.

Vanhaeren says: "The fact that the location of the register is unsupervised has caused problems - a reporter recently entered the room to photograph a member signing the register.

"So far, no signature sheets have gone missing but the risk can't be ruled out."

He adds: "Furthermore, there may be questions from time to time as to the conformity of certain signatures with members' original signatures, on payment records in particular."

On average, between 200-250 members are present on Mondays and Thursdays during meeting weeks in Brussels, with 400-450 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Each day, between 150-180 members sign the central register, mainly in the morning.

In Strasbourg, between 12-15 members sign the register on Monday evenings, with 70-80 on Friday mornings, Vanhaeren says. He warns, however, that considerable groundwork would be needed before introducing a system of biometric tests.

In the shorter-term, he says the room in which members sign the register should be better supervised either by ushers or via webcam to prevent fraud.

MEPs receive a daily allowance of €150 to cover the cost of accommodation and meals.