Strasbourg, 17/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - Dutch Socialist Michiel van Hulthen protested in plenary against the fact that parliamentary assistants had been prevented from placing two table at the entry to the hemicycle to raise MEPs' awareness to the introduction of a statute for assistants. As Quaestor, Mary Banotti (Irish, EPP) explained that there was no censorship but that the organisation of a demonstration on the premises of the European Parliament demands several formalities all of which had not been met. She said that the assistants would be able to organise a demonstration at one of the next sessions. Italian Socialist Fiorella Ghilardotti recalled that her delegation had submitted contracts of assistants to Parliament's administration and asked her colleagues to do likewise.
The assistants nevertheless distributed coloured badges to MEPs prepared to support them. In an letter of information to MEPs, the Association of Assistants recall that it is not a question of granting parliamentary assistants a statute of civil servant, but simply offering them a certain equality of treatment and minimum guarantees. At a press conference, their Association presented a social survey that demonstrates that "undeclared work is a reality". 230 assistants answered the survey and the result was that: 14% have no work contract' 12% have contracts as outside consultants, whereas they work full time in the EP; 53% have no medical cover in Belgium. The very variable remuneration is situated between BEF 14,000 and 150,000 (after tax). The note disseminated by the assistants stresses all nationalities and political groups are affected by these irregular situations. And they demand a statute based on the principle of uniform guarantees.