MEPs earn millions on the side

Members of the European Parliament must be more transparent about the on-the-side activities they do while in public office, Transparency International’s EU Office said in October 2014, as new research showed MEPs collectively earn between €5.8 and €18.3m per year on top of their official salaries.

The findings came from the new EU Integrity Watch database (www.integritywatch.eu), launched on the 13 October 2014, which will for the first time collect all available information on the outside activities and incomes of MEPs.

According to the French High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP), 30 out of France's 74 MEPs have sources of income besides their elected mandate. The Authority published on 24 October 2014 the declarations of interest made by French MEPs elected earlier in the year.

• Primary Source

Transparency International: EU Office, 13.10.14: 398 MEPs earn up to €18m from side-jobs - EU Integrity Watch database launched - http://www.transparencyinternational.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/EU-Integrity-Watch-Launch-Press-Release.pdf

Website: EU Integrity Watch http://www.integritywatch.eu/

EurActiv, 13.10.14: French and Austrian MEPs earn the most from external activities http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/french-and-austrian-meps-earn-most-external-activities-309131

EUObserver, 15.10.14: Cheques, no balances: side-jobs in the European Parliament [Opinion] http://euobserver.com/opinion/126086

EurActiv, 29.10.14: Almost half of French MEPs have second jobs http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/almost-half-french-meps-have-second-jobs-309566

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