MEPs can claim £120,000 a year in expenses without providing “real proof” of how the money is spent, because EU officials don’t want to saddle them with an “administrative burden” which would hamper their freedom, a court heard.
EU expenses chief Frank Antoine-Poirel said that only on “very limited occasions” would MEPs be asked for “real proof” of where MEPs allowances ended up.
Those limited occasions might include MEPs who belong to the wrong party, or hold not europeanly acceptable views.
EU mandarin against red tape? Now that’s man bites dog.
A simple kiss-our-arse bribe from the EU.
All EU pensions received by UK citizens should be “voluntarily” handed back or the recipient loses said UK citizenship and is deported to Europe.
Make your mind up. MEPs’ expenses (which goes to people *other* than MEPs, eg office staff, rent, taxis, trains, baby sitters) or MEPs’ allowances (which goes to MEPs).
I’m not following. If it’s an allowance, i.e., and amount you can claim up to and have to prove higher expenses if you want more, that makes a lot of sense. Similar stuff is done with allowances in the German income tax system, and doubtless others (e.g. you’re assumed to have certain outgoings associated with your employment, healthcare costs, and so on, and can claim that whether incurred or not, but are also invited to demonstrate higher expenses if you wish to claim more).
Also note, to the extent these allowances are a cash perk that ends up in your back pocket if not spent, that’s also an incentive to cut costs. E.g., be a bit organised and frugal with travel arrangements, rather than buy a one-way business class ticket 30 minutes before departure twice a week.
Why would we care if a europarasite spends £120k on plane tickets, or £1k and just keeps the other £119k? We’re still out of pocket that same £120k.
It’s sensible but not for a sum that large. Give ’em a per diem of €100 per day and that’s yer lot.
Sensible?
Travel: have a central booking system (easy)
Expenses: issue cards (easy), plus allow cash expenses with receipts (easy)
Staff: employed directly, paid centrally once the paperwork is in order
All routine stuff these days.
There’s no reason why politicians shouldn’t abide by the standards they impose on everyone else.
And political careers are now becoming dangerously lucrative. Who would want to rock the boat these days?