Members
of the European Parliament are today voting on standardised salaries and
reduced expenses in a bid to curb the public perception of excess and over
indulgence.
The
assembly’s 626 members are being asked to back new rules on salaries, expenses,
tax and pensions.
The
recommendations propose that all salaries be set at £62,000 a year and MEPs pay
tax directly to the EU.
MEPs
are currently paid the same rate as national MPs, producing huge salary ranges
between the different nations.
Pat
Cox, the Irish president of the European Parliament, also wants to reform the
expense system which has been abused in the past as MEPs do not have to prove
how they incurred costs.
