7 STATUTE FOR MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
(25349)
5575/04
—
| European Parliament Resolution amending the Decision adopting a Statute for Members of the European Parliament
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| Legal base | Article 190(5) EC and Article 108(4) of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community; approval by Council by QMV except in relation to taxation (unanimity)
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| Deposited in Parliament |
12 February 2004 |
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration |
EM of 26 February 2004 |
| Previous Committee Report |
None; but see (24341) —; HC 63-xviii (2002-03), para 4 (9 April 2003), HC 63-xxiii (2002-03), para 7 (4 June 2003), HC 63-xxviii (2002-03), para 5 (2 July 2003), HC 63-xxxii (2002-03), para 11 (17 September 2003) and HC 42-vii (2003-04), para 9 (21 January 2004)
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| Discussed in Council | 26 January 2004
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
7.1 By virtue of Article 190(5) EC, the European Parliament, after
seeking an opinion from the Commission and acting with the approval
of the Council, may lay down regulations and general conditions
governing the performance of the duties of Members of the European
Parliament (MEPs). The Council acts by qualified majority when
giving its approval, but all rules or conditions relating to the
taxation of Members or former Members require unanimity.
7.2 We considered the draft Resolution on 9 April,
4 June, 2 July and 17 September and the Resolution on 21 January.
The Minister for Europe (Mr Denis MacShane) informed us on 19
January 2004 of the adoption of the Resolution by the European
Parliament on 17 December 2003 and that the Resolution would be
considered by the Council on 26 January 2004. The Minister informed
us in detail of the changes which had been made to the draft.
7.3 We considered that the revised version was a
considerable improvement which, among other beneficial changes,
removed the provisions on privileges and immunities which we considered
to be unjustifiable. We remained of the view that the proposed
salary for an MEP was rather high and welcomed the Minister's
undertaking to take any realistic opportunity to secure a reduction.
We cleared the proposal from scrutiny so that the Minister might
participate in an agreement within the Council on 26 January 2004.
The European Parliament resolution
7.4 The document is the consolidated version of the
motion for a Resolution of the European Parliament. It has been
prepared by the European Parliament's rapporteur, Mr Willi
Rothley MEP, following the passing of the Resolution by the European
Parliament on 17 December 2003.
7.5 The document sets out the revised text of the
Statute for Members of the European Parliament and contains the
amendments which the Minister described to us in his letter of
19 January 2004.
The Government's view
7.6 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 26 February
2004 the Minister describes the changes made to the draft Statute
by the Resolution. The Minister informs us that the Resolution
was not approved by the Council at its meeting on 26 January.
The Minister further explains that, as a result, the Resolution
"currently has no legal status" and the Statute has
not been adopted. There is no timetable for the re-tabling of
the proposal in the Council.
Conclusion
7.7 We thank the Minister for informing us of
the outcome of the Council meeting. We infer from the Minister's
remarks that there is now no prospect of the matter being reconsidered
by the Council in the near future.
7.8 We see no reason to keep this document under
scrutiny and we are content to clear it, on the understanding
that the Minister will continue to keep us informed of any further
consideration of the matter by the Council.
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