The move would add more than 3 million euro a year to the Parliament’s 7 million annual transport costs. MEPs can book these cars to take a free drive to a bar, a restaurant, the station, the airport, their apartment, their hotel, etc. The idea of spending millions on luxury cars and private drivers was to improve security for MEPs. They will be able to vet drivers and install panic buttons in cars as MEPs often carry ‘highly confidential documents’. A fancy EP uniform for the drivers is also foreseen in the budget.
President Martin Schulz and the 14 EP Vice-Presidents were enthusiastic about the proposal and decided to bring it quickly to a vote in the parliament. But, the idea of spending millions on luxury cars and drivers did not go down well with some MEPs. So the vote was held off.
In sharp contrast with this extravagance was the EP’s decision not to accept greater transparency of their 4.299(!) euro monthly allowance. This allowance is paid as a lump sum and receipts are not necessary. Only in the event of suspicious circumstances are expenses investigated. The EP had originally considered using much tougher language, calling for obligatory annual reporting by MEPs. However, the two largest groups in the parliament, the centre-right EPP (Christen-Democrats) and the centre-left S&D (Socialists) tabled an amendment that weakened the text. They agreed with the annual reporting but ‘without causing additional costs’. As the new transparency rules would require new staff members, it meant the end of the ‘good intentions’.
Better a private driver in a fancy uniform than control of your expenses!
