New Open Europe briefing: What does the European Parliament do and how does it affect your everyday life?
24 April 2009
Open Europe has today published a briefing looking at the European Parliament. The briefing seeks to answer basic questions voters may be asking themselves ahead of the European elections in June this year. It also outlines what is wrong with the European Parliament at the moment, and gives several simple proposals for how MEPs can better connect with voters.
Open Europe’s Research Director Mats Persson said,
“The European Parliament now has a lot of influence over everyday life in Britain – many of the laws affecting this country have been passed by MEPs. With more and more laws coming from the EU each year, it is extremely important to understand how the European Parliament works.”
“Unfortunately, despite increased powers, the European Parliament has failed to bring the EU closer to its citizens. In fact, the public’s trust in MEPs is at an all time low.”
“If it wants to be taken seriously by voters, the European Parliament needs urgent reform, including a complete overhaul of the rules for MEPs’ salaries, pensions and allowances, as well as an end to the shady back-room deals between the main groups in the Parliament.”
For the full briefing, click the link below:
http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/europeanparliament2009.pdf
Summary
The often repeated claim the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) ‘lack real powers’, is largely inaccurate. In fact, MEPs now effectively have a ‘veto’ over national governments in about 75% of all European legislation, taking decisions on everything from working time to internet use.
The Parliament has grown in power with every new EU treaty. The Lisbon Treaty will be no exception. If it is ratified, the number of areas where MEPs share powers with national governments will double.
However, despite the important role of the European Parliament, voter turnout has continued to decrease since the first direct elections in 1979. The Parliament has an image of being out of touch and distant from its electorate.
This has left the public asking ‘why should I bother voting in the European elections?’
There are several problems with the Parliament which have fostered this image, including misuses of MEPs’ allowances and expenses, lack of transparency and the absence of alternatives for voters who oppose the idea of continuous EU integration. Giving the Parliament more powers will not necessarily bring the EU closer to its citizens – in fact it could even make things worse.
The Parliament could improve its reputation and gain more respect from voters by adopting some very simple and common sense reforms.
For example:
- Cut MEPs’ wages by 20% and allowances by 10%, from the levels that will apply as of June this year. Over a five year term of the European Parliament this could save taxpayers well over €220 million and bring wages down to around the same level as UK MPs. MEPs’ pay and allowance would still be generous.
- Publish the official figures for MEPs’ salary, pension and expense entitlements in one easily accessible document and oblige MEPs to publish all their expenses.
- Allowances and expenses should be based on actual costs, not be given based on overly generous flat-rates. MEPs should be forced to produce receipts for all expenses.
- All unused expenses should be reimbursed back to the EU budget.
- Scrap the highly controversial ‘second’ pension scheme entirely - the scheme should immediately be closed to contributions from both new and existing MEPs.
- Establish a robust register of MEPs’ interests so that the public can find out if MEPs have financial interests that may influence their vote.
- End the ‘travelling circus’ between Strasbourg and Brussels.
- End opaque back-room deals - for example, the ‘deal’ between the two main party groupings in the Parliament to share the Presidency of the Parliament throughout each five-year term. Such important decisions must be fully transparent to increase public confidence and trust.
- Publish full minutes of Committee meetings.
- Make debates in the European Parliament more flexible, adversarial and interesting.
Notes for editors:
1) For more information, please contact Mats Persson on 0207 197 2333 or 0779 9460691.
2) Open Europe is an independent think-tank calling for reform of the European Union. Its supporters include: Sir Stuart Rose, Executive Chairman, Marks and Spencer plc; Sir Crispin Davis, Former Chief Executive, Reed Elsevier Group plc; Sir David Lees, Chairman, Tate and Lyle plc; Henry Keswick, Chairman, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd; Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG, Life President, J Sainsbury plc; Sir John Egan, Chairman, Severn Trent plc and Lord Kalms of Edgware, President, DSG International plc.
For a full list, please click here: http://www.openeurope.org.uk/about-us/supporters.aspx