Brussels, 22/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - German Social Democrat Willi Rothley, European Parliament rapporteur on the draft statute for officials, has written to the Council President, Brian Cowen, to ensure him of his cooperation to save the project which is coming up against opposition from German and Austrian chancelleries. (See EUROPE of 16 January, p.15). In his letter, Mr Rothley says he is willing to envisage a statute that does not contain fiscal provisions so that the Council can enact by qualified majority. He recalls that the legal services of the three institutions are of the opinion that, if there are no such fiscal provisions, the allowances of MEPs would be automatically subject to the national taxation of their state of origin alone. The Parliament's legal committee is to meet on Tuesday 27 January, the day after the meeting of the General Affairs Council, to integrate into the proposed statute all the changes that arise from the compromise with the Council. Mr Rothley points out in his letter that he is willing to propose this tax solution to the committee provided that it has met with the Council's approval.