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Euro MPs approve allowance boost | Euro MPs approve allowance boost |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Euro MPs have approved an extra 1,500 euros (£1,300) a month in allowances to cover staff costs and backed the hiring of 150 new administrative personnel. | Euro MPs have approved an extra 1,500 euros (£1,300) a month in allowances to cover staff costs and backed the hiring of 150 new administrative personnel. |
The budget increase was justified, MEPs argued, because of the increased workload under the Lisbon Treaty. | The budget increase was justified, MEPs argued, because of the increased workload under the Lisbon Treaty. |
The extra money for assistants comes on top of the existing 17,540 euros (£15,447) a month MEPs get to pay them. | The extra money for assistants comes on top of the existing 17,540 euros (£15,447) a month MEPs get to pay them. |
Most British MEPs opposed the funding for extra posts. The revised budget is yet to be approved by EU governments. | |
The European Parliament's press service says the new posts will cost 13.4m euros (£12m) - or 0.8% of the parliament's total 2010 budget of 1.6bn euros (£1.4bn). | The European Parliament's press service says the new posts will cost 13.4m euros (£12m) - or 0.8% of the parliament's total 2010 budget of 1.6bn euros (£1.4bn). |
The parliament plans to cut 4m euros (£3.5m) from its internal reserve for buildings, "by way of compensation". But the parliament's budget is now "stretched to its limits", the statement said. | The parliament plans to cut 4m euros (£3.5m) from its internal reserve for buildings, "by way of compensation". But the parliament's budget is now "stretched to its limits", the statement said. |
Of the 150 new administrative staff, 75 will be civil servants and 75 assistants for the political groups. | Of the 150 new administrative staff, 75 will be civil servants and 75 assistants for the political groups. |
Of the civil servants, 70 will bolster staff on the parliamentary committees, where all legislation is studied before being voted on. The other five will help to step up co-operation with national parliaments. | Of the civil servants, 70 will bolster staff on the parliamentary committees, where all legislation is studied before being voted on. The other five will help to step up co-operation with national parliaments. |
Lisbon changes | Lisbon changes |
The move was opposed by most British Labour MEPs, as well as those from the Conservatives and UKIP. LibDem MEPs were split between abstaining and voting in favour. | |
The leader of the Labour MEPs, Glenis Willmott, wrote to the parliament's president Jerzy Buzek voicing concern about the extra posts and asking where the money would come from. | The leader of the Labour MEPs, Glenis Willmott, wrote to the parliament's president Jerzy Buzek voicing concern about the extra posts and asking where the money would come from. |
"What evidence is there to back up the projected need for and costing of these additional posts?" she asked. | "What evidence is there to back up the projected need for and costing of these additional posts?" she asked. |
The Lisbon Treaty gives the parliament new powers to co-legislate with EU governments on agriculture, justice and home affairs, financial and economic affairs. | The Lisbon Treaty gives the parliament new powers to co-legislate with EU governments on agriculture, justice and home affairs, financial and economic affairs. |
"Co-decision" - that is, putting MEPs on an equal footing with governments - now becomes the norm for most policy areas. | "Co-decision" - that is, putting MEPs on an equal footing with governments - now becomes the norm for most policy areas. |
The 736-member parliament elected in June 2009 is operating under new rules for salaries and allowances. MEPs' salaries are now paid from the parliament's budget, not from national governments' budgets. | The 736-member parliament elected in June 2009 is operating under new rules for salaries and allowances. MEPs' salaries are now paid from the parliament's budget, not from national governments' budgets. |
MEPs now get a uniform monthly salary of 7,665 euros (£6,750), which is 38.5% of the basic salary of a judge at the European Court of Justice. | MEPs now get a uniform monthly salary of 7,665 euros (£6,750), which is 38.5% of the basic salary of a judge at the European Court of Justice. |