Parliament bureau faces last-chance saloon over MEPs’ expenses reform

By Martin Banks

Date: 29/04/04

A FINAL attempt will be made next week to push through reform of MEPs' controversial system of travel expenses before June's European elections.

The European Parliament's bureau, consisting of President Pat Cox and the assembly's 14 vice-presidents, will be asked to adopt, as a "matter of urgency", new rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances.

Many members, frightened that voters will punish them at the ballot box after harsh press reports have attacked the assembly's lax expenses system, are anxious to bring in the reforms before the 10-13 June poll.

But it is feared it may be too late to introduce new rules during the current Parliamentary term.

One bureau member, who did not want to be named, said: "I expect the bureau will give a political signal that it is ready to change the rules on expenses but leave it for the next Parliament to do so."

A spokesman for the European People's Party (EPP-ED), Parliament's biggest political group, said: "Many EPP members support reform but whether it is practical for any changes to be introduced before the election is another thing altogether."

At its meeting in Strasbourg on Monday (3 May), the bureau is due to discuss a report calling for MEPs to be reimbursed for their travel expenses on the basis of actual cost incurred.

At present, MEPs can legally fly economy class but claim a full-cost fare.

MEPs recently backed the report, by Dutch Socialist member Michiel van Hulten, by 436 votes to 34.

It also calls for other reforms, including:

• Abolition of the health insurance scheme for MEPs;
• reform of MEPs' contributions to the voluntary pension fund, and;
• abolition of the scheme, introduced last year, for reimbursement of taxi fares.

The changes were originally due to enter into effect at the same time as the members' statute, establishing MEPs' salaries - blocked by some member states in December.

Van Hulten said: "It is now up to the bureau to act on the resolution adopted by plenary earlier this month. Since it does not need the backing of plenary or of the Council, the reform can still be implemented in time for the European elections.

"The plenary vote was quite clear but the bureau doesn't always get the message," he added.

The European Parliament's Bureau (comprising President Pat Cox and 14 Vice-Presidents) is being asked to adopt, as a matter of urgency, new rules governing the payment of MEPs' travel expenses and allowances.

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