Hundreds of candidates will give the June 9 “battle” for one of the total of 21 places that Greece will have in the European Parliament. Of course, engagement with the public, the need to contribute, etc. is the main motivation of the candidates, but – the prestige, the prestige and above all the salary of the MEP position – are definitely an additional motivation.

According to the website of the European Parliament, monthly net salary of the MEP today amounts to the not inconsiderable amount of 7,853.89 euros (the MP’s salary in the country is 5,135.04 euros per month). The amount before taxes and insurance contributions (gross that is) is 10,000 euros per month (10,075.18 euros to be exact).

Also, by decision of the Council of State in our country, additional taxation cannot be imposed on the amount received by the MEPs – that is, the Greeks MEPs they do not pay income tax or solidarity levy.

What allowances do MEPs receive?

Travel expenses

Most meetings of the European Parliament, such as plenary sessions, committee meetings and political group meetings, are held in Brussels or Strasbourg. MEPs are being given back the real thing ticket price for going to the place of the meeting, plus flat rate compensation based on the distance and duration of the trip which covers the remaining costs of the trip, such as motorway tolls, excess baggage charges or booking fees.

In total, for activities outside their country of election, MEPs can be reimbursed for travel, accommodation and related expenses up to the amount of €4,950 per year.

For activities in the Member State of their choice, only transport costs are reimbursed up to a maximum annual amount determined per country.

Per diem or “accommodation allowance”

Parliament pays a lump sum compensation of €350 to cover the expenses related to housing and other related expenses for each day MEPs are present in Brussels or Strasbourg during official working and meeting days.

The compensation covers expenses for hotel, meals and other expenses entailed by this presence. On days when plenary votes are held, if MEPs lose more than half of the roll call votes, the above compensation is reduced by 50%, even if they are present.

Reimbursement of overhead expenses

Compensation €4 886 per month covers the costs of MEPs’ parliamentary activities, such as office leases and operating costinternet subscriptions, computers and telephones, as well as the organization of conferences and exhibitions.

The allowance is halved for MEPs who are unexcusedly absent on at least half the days of plenary sessions in a parliamentary year, from September to August.

Allowances include: medical expenses (reimbursement of two-thirds of their medical expenses), h severance pay (transitional compensation equal to their salary, for one month of each year of their tenure) and others rights such as equipped offices in both Brussels and Strasbourg and the use of Parliament’s official vehicles in the exercise of their official duties when they are in one of the two cities.

Pension at 63

MEPs are entitled to an old-age pension from the age of 63. The pension amounts to 3.5% of salary for each full year of service and does not exceed 70% of the salary in total.

The supplementary pension scheme established for MEPs in 1989 stopped accepting new members from July 2009 and is being phased out.