Strasbourg, 15/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - During the meeting of the conference of presidents of the political groups of the European Parliament, President Nicole Fontaine and French Minister Pierre Moscovici, for the Council, insisted on how determined they were to continue dialogue between the two institutions on the proposed statute for MEPs. Mr Moscovici pointed out that the Council had authorised him to continue negotiation on the basis of proposals by Ms Fontaine (see below). He recalled that the two institutions agree on 16 articles but that five points continue to pose problems: - rules relating to expiry of the term of office, retirement age, reimbursement of costs and secretariat (assistants) allowances, taxation, and the level of parliamentary allowance. While recognising the Parliament's autonomy of management, he said that the Council at least requires that the principles applicable to the reimbursement of costs and the secretariat allowance be clearly set out in the statute. Mr Moscovici said that the Council acknowledges the need for equal treatment and for a decent indemnity for MEPs. In this sense, he said that the Council may understand the proposal by the Group of Eminent Persons but finds it harder to accept the additional 1000 euros that would bring the remuneration up to 8420 euros per month.
Mr Moscovici reaffirms French Presidency hopes to settle this tricky matter but finds
Ms Fontaine's proposals 'unacceptable" as they stand
On 9 November, European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine had taken up the initiative on this tricky issue by submitting to the conference of presidents of political groups a document that takes up the points of convergence between the two institutions, and presents proposals on the three most sensitive issues: parliamentary indemnity, taxation and early retirement age. With the agreement of the Conference of Presidents, she forwarded this document to the Council with a view to Tuesday's discussion with Pierre Moscovici. Shortly before this meeting, Mr Moscovici considered as "positive" the fact that Ms Fontaine had made proposals but, he added, "we think this is still something to be negotiated". In this exercise, it is necessary to take into account the legitimate needs of MEPs but also the concerns expressed by citizens. Stating the ambition of the French Presidency to conclude this negotiation before the end of the year, Mr Moscovici pointed out that the issues will be examined again on Monday 20 November by the General Affairs Council. EUROPE has reason to believe that the Council considers certain points unacceptable, mainly: - the amount of the parliamentary indemnity (the amount of EUR 8420 approved corresponds to the highest level of the proposals by the "group of eminent personalities"; - the Community taxation regime (an acceptable compromise by the Council could be Community taxation during the parliamentary term of office and national taxation upon retirement); - the reimbursement of travel costs (the regulation of which is left up to the Bureau); - the indemnity for the secretariat (that the text does not mention while the Council hopes that the regime of assistants and means of payment will be integrated into the statute of MEPs).