The full cost of the European Union’s parliamentarians

Date: 02/07/1998

Monthly salaries of MEPS from each member state

(Calculated in ecu at September 1996 rates. Figures supplied by European Parliament)

Allowances available to MEPs

Travel and subsistence

Inside the EU: 0.76 ecu for first 400 kilometres on each leg of one return journey per week. Subsequent kilometres: 0.38 ecu.

Travel allowance for costs incurred in performance of their duties (except in member state where elected): up to 3,000 ecu a year

Taxi fares from airport to European Parliament: in Brussels 22.7 ecu; Strasbourg 22.7 ecu

Per diem allowance while on parliamentary business inside EU: 231 ecu

Per diem allowance while on parliamentary business outside EU: 115.50 ecu

(Travel rates, but not subsistence, have been frozen since 1994)

General expenditure allowance

A monthly lump sum of 3,262 ecu intended to cover travel and ancillary expenses within MEP's own member state, office management and running costs, telephone, postage, computer, fax etc.

(The general expenditure allowance has increased by 15&percent; since 1994)

Secretarial assistance allowance

A monthly sum of 9,408 ecu per member to cover the expenses arising from employment or engagement of the services of one or more assistants.

(The secretarial allowance has increased by 21&percent; since 1994)

Insurance policies

These provide life assurance, insurance against accidents either in an MEP's private life or when performing parliamentary duties, and insurance against theft and loss suffered during their work as an Euro MP.

Medical expenses

Where there is no national or alternative sickness insurance scheme, members, their spouses and dependent children may be reimbursed up to 30,000 ecu a year for medical costs.

Language and computer courses

Different formulae exist depending on where training takes place. But when MEPs attend a language course abroad recognised by the Parliament's professional training service, the teaching costs will be reimbursed to a maximum of 30 ecu per hour, as will return travel.

Computer training courses are reimbursable up to a limit of 1,800 ecu per year.

Departure from the Parliament

Members who leave after three years' service are entitled to three months' salary, and after five years to six months. Thereafter, former MEPs are entitled to a transitional allowance of one month for each year's service after five years for a maximum period of two years after leaving office.

Members' assistants may have up to two economy return air fares between their place of residence and the capital of their member state reimbursed.

Cost of above allowances to 1998 parliament budget (in ecu)

Travel and subsistence48,400,000

Special travel1,000,000

General expenditure allowance24,884,000

Secretarial assistance allowance72,316,000

President's travel and representational budget132,920

Social charges, accident and health cover1,593,000

Transitional end of mandate allowance50,000

Pensions4,600,000

Invalidity benefits150,000

Survivors' pensions2,000,000

MEPs' voluntary pension scheme8,010,000

Language courses600,000

Computer courses296,000

Exchange rate costs 400,000

Total164,431,920 ecu