02/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - German Social Democrat, Martin Schulz, informed journalists that he hoped that a statute for MEPs would finally be adopted on the basis of proposals put forward by German Social Democrat, Willy Rothley, which received the committee's approval last month (see EUROPE 12 April p.13). Mr Schulz stressed that it was "absolutely essential" for ensuring more transparency, particularly on the question of expenses and salaries for MEPs, that monopolised the attention of the public, to the detriment of other important issues. He did explain, however, that personally, he did not consider such a statute necessary because MEPs were still elected according to electoral laws that were different and did not all share the same mandate. Mr Shulz pointed out that he represented around 900,000 electors, whilst Robert Goebbels, for example, in Luxembourg, had an easier role, because he only represented around 60,000.