Brussels, 03/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - In a letter addressed to the members of the European Parliament on the eve of the debate to be held during Wednesday's plenary, President Pat Cox stresses that the exploratory contacts he had with the governments of Member States allows him to conclude that it is possible to reach an agreement between the Council and Parliament on the statute of MEPs as long as there is the political will on either side to do so. "I think we have a good basis on which to deliver a successful result, close to that contained in the Rothley Report", writes the Parliament President, who confronts his colleagues with their responsibilities by stressing that they must make a choice - a choice that could be made on Thursday when a resolution is voted. Two proposals are currently on the table. One comes from Mr Rothley and concerns certain legal aspects of his earlier report on which it may be difficult to reach a majority within the Council. The other, presented by the ELDR, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA Groups, is quite close to the principle defended by President Cox, who considers it would be necessary to disassociate the essential aspects of remuneration and social rights and retirement pensions (on which an agreement may be found without moving too far from the Rothley Report) from questions relating to the updating of the Protocol on privileges and immunities that pose a real problem, if only because they require agreement from all national parliaments.
Problems linked to practical and pecuniary issues would be resolved at 95%, says one spokesperson, who summarised the assessment made by President Cox. The letter above all indicates that: - a majority may be found in Council in favour of a level of remuneration that is very close to that proposed by the Rothley report; - the Belgian compromise on taxation (Community taxation with the possibility of additional tax for Member States that so wish), accepted by the Rothley report, may be approved; - most delegations may agree to retirement at 62 years of age, early retirement at 55, and an end-of-mandate transitional allowance; - and there is an agreement in principle for social and health insurance.