European Parliament Elections 2019

Wieland had been entrusted to spearhead reforms
to build public trust in the EP ahead of elections
in May. But he has opposed proposals which would
require MEPs to keep receipts for expenses, and
have MEPs only meet with registered lobbyists.
For instance, European commissioner for climate
Miguel Arias Canete, a former MEP, continues
to draw a pension from the European parliament,
despite the approximately €20,000 he now takes
home every month for his job at the commission.
THE SALARY
Up until 2009, an MEP's salary was pegged to their
domestic national counterparts.
This created some large salary gaps between MEPs
from different member states. For example, MPs in
Malta earned around €21,000 a year compared to
some €170,000 in Italy.
To counter such a divide, a decision was made to
set an MEP's monthly pay check at 38.5 percent of
the basic salary of a judge at the European Court
of Justice.
He draws the money from a controversial voluntary
pension scheme that last year was running a €326m
actuarial deficit.
The pension scheme was stopped in 2009 but
continues to pay out - and is likely to go bust in a
few years, leaving the EU public with the bill.
THE MEP TOP-UPS
In addition, MEPs receive an extra €4,500 a month
for office expenses, tax-free. This money goes
directly into their personal bank accounts, and costs
a total of some €40m a year.
It means that today an MEP, regardless of nationality,
receives €8,757.70 per month - €6,824.85 after taxes.
A whole range of benefits come on top of that, some
of them controversial. Some perks continue to pay
out even if they no longer work at the European
Parliament.
Unlike most employees' 'expenses', MEPs are not
required to keep any receipts, leaving it an open
question as to what extent they actually spend the
money on things like office supplies.
A group of journalists in 2017 from across Europe
had attempted to find out but were met with either
Money and transparency, like oil and water?
Photo: European Parliament