By Martin Banks - 9th December 2008
The new system is more transparent than the current system
Giuseppe Gargani
Staff working for MEPs could soon benefit from a new assistants' statute.
The move, partly designed to combat potential abuse of the system, was heralded as a “major step forward” by Italian MEP Giuseppe Gargani rapporteur on the issue and chair of the parliament's legal affairs committee.
The proposal aims to improve transparency and guarantee non-discrimination through a set of common rules on the system for hiring MEPs' assistants.
Under the scheme, all MEP staff will be subject to social security provisions and taxation.
MEPs' assistants will continue to receive their respective salaries from the European parliament's budget and assistants will have similar social benefits to those of EU civil servants.
The new regulation, if approved by member states, will replace 27 different national systems on contractual relationships, tax and social security with a single scheme.
It is part of a larger package of measures taken by parliament to overhaul the entire system of employing and paying MEPs' assistants.
The proposal is due for a vote in parliament's plenary in December in Strasbourg.
Gargani, whose report on the issue was approved by the legal affairs committee, added, "The new system is neutral from a budgetary angle, but more transparent than the current system.
“Members will of course be able to determine the salary. Social security contributions will be made and all salaries will be taxed", said Gargani.
"MEPs will continue to choose their staff. What is new is that they will be automatically included in the EU social security system and the related taxation. The council should now adopt the new set of rules without delay so that we can have it up and running as soon as possible", the Italian MEP said.
The aim, he said, is to have the new assistants' statute enter into force in July next year, immediately after the European elections and at the same time as the new statute for MEPs.
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