Strasbourg, 11/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On the fringes of the Strasbourg plenary, the European Parliament's Legal Committee adopted the report by German Social Democrat Willy Rothley on the draft terms and conditions for MEPs by 19 to 12 with 2 abstentions. This Opinion for the President of the Parliament will be examined by the Conference of Political Groups before serving as the basis of negotiations with the Council. It challenges various compromise positions Member States had achieved in this sensitive issue.
In terms of MEPs' pay, the opinion suggests that the salary be the equivalent of 50% of a European Court of Justice judge's salary, which would mean pay of around EUR 8500 a month (rather than EUR 7350 recommended by the Council based on an average of current MPs' pay, with an additional EUR 1000). The Council's position also focussed on the reimbursement of actually incurred costs, but the opinion departs from this by foreseeing that the idea of reimbursing real costs could be accompanied in some cases by the option for Parliament to pay expenses. The Opinion is part of the Council compromise on salaries subject to Community taxation with dispensation for Member States (Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom) wishing to maintain a national salary system. The Opinion requests, however, that Member States that want to impose an additional national tax on salaries, inform the European Parliament before the adoption of the statute. MEPs' salaries paid during another Parliamentary mandate will be deducted from the salary for the European Parliament mandate.
Other aspects of the Opinion affect parliamentary immunity. The legal committee believes that no authority or legal body can order MEPs' documents or electronic recordings to be confiscated. The text outlines that searching MEPs, their office or accommodation is not allowed unless the latters' permission is granted. The document also asserts that MEPs have the right to travel anywhere in EU territory and cannot be restricted by the law or by an authority or court's injunction. The report also includes provisions for the social protection of MEPs and their pension rights.
During a press conference, President Cox chose not to give his opinion on the work of the Legal Committee but did announce that he was going to open an intensive consultation process on the Rothley report. As President, he stressed that he wanted to know the opinions of MEPs and that he was ready to go to the highest level of the Council to request a solution if he was sure that the assembly was prepared to accept it. "I want a decision to be taken during my mandate, but I want it to be the right one", he added.
CDU MEP, Klaus-Heiner Lehne considered that the Legal Committee had reached a result that was generally well-balanced and which could be expected to eliminate MEP salary inequalities. British Liberal, Diana Wallis denounced support for the decision by, "a coalition of the socialists and the right-wing - including the Tories", as ""unedifying". Ms Wallis believes that, "50% sounds like a modest percentage" but, "deliberately obscures a clear view of MEPs' salaries". An independent recommendation based on the average MPs' salary in four of the larger Member States would have been preferable, she added.