MEPs urged to vote for expenses reform

6.54.32pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 17th Mar 2005

British Euro-MPs are challenging those from other countries and across the political spectrum to support reform of their expense arrangements, backed up with the proper information from the European Parliament's administration.

The reform plan is set for a cliffhanger vote in Strasbourg next month when put to the full parliament, after a key committee approved a call for change by just one vote.

Although all British MEPs are likely to support it there is strong resistance to change from many mainly rightwing members in other countries.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London commented: "We're making some progress but it's depressing that so many MEPs still do not recognise the need for change".

MEPs can be spot audited but Parliamentary rules do not require them to keep receipts for the €3,785 (£2,653) monthly allowance paid them to maintain their offices, despite a 1998 recommendation by the EU's Court of Auditors that this should take place.

While MEPs who subscribe to the Parliament's pension fund are required to repay contributions deducted at source from this allowance, the lack of regular accounting procedures leaves all MEPs open to the accusation that some may be using public money to make private payments.

Sarah Ludford added: "It is absurd for MEPs to leave themselves in a position where they could be suspected of embezzlement of taxpayers' money. But it also unacceptable that the administration's incompetence means delays in sending us the statements on precisely how much we must repay."

"MEPs have to act as far as they can, even though the underlying problem is the failure of EU governments to agree a complete overhaul of the pay and expenses regime since we endorsed that change almost 2 years ago."

"The Parliament has an increasingly important role in lawmaking but its reputation is undermined by suspicions about misuse of expenses, and all MEPs get tarred by the same brush."

NOTE

The key amendment passed reads as follows:

Considers that the general expenditure allowance must be accounted for, either by an annual accountant's report or by the presentation of receipts for major items of expenditure by each Member, including an account of the way in which compensation was provided for the deduction of Members' contributions to the pension scheme, in so far as they are automatically transferred from this allowance.