After this European election daywhich lasted four days, the European Parliament is redrawn based on the results that have been obtained in different countries. Of the 720 members of the European Parliament during this legislature, 61 come from Spain, where the PP has won —as the polls predicted—, although just barely. She did it after an election in which the extreme right has had its great successesespecially in countries like Austria, France either Netherlandsand although to a lesser extent, also in our country: Vox doubled its seatsgoing to six, and the formation of far-right agitator Alvise Pérez, The party is over, took another three.

From the results of each of the countries, a specific number of deputies emerge: Germany, the country that sends the most MEPs to Brussels, elected 96; Malta, Luxembourg and Cyprus, six each. And all of them, of course, they have their MEP salary. And which one is it? MEPs in the European Parliament receive a allowance amounting to 12,800 euros per monthbetween the fixed monthly salary and the allowance for general expenses, an amount that, in practice, is higher because that sum would have to add the daily allowances they receive in the exercise of their duties when they are present in the European Parliament.

The fixed monthly allowance of an MEP is 10,075.18 euros gross and 7,853.18 net, after deducting EU tax and insurance contributions, although the final net figure may vary depending on your nationality, as Member States may impose additional taxes. As established by the single Statute of MEPs, Salaries are set by calculating 38.5% of the base salary of a judge of the Court of Justice of the EU.

The per diems that MEPs (also) charge

In addition to their salary, MEPs – like members of national parliaments – They are entitled to diets that cover the expenses which they incur in the exercise of their parliamentary duties, often outside their home. Thus, they receive a diet of 4,950 euros per month which, according to the European Parliament’s website, is a flat-rate amount to cover the costs of renting offices in the countries in which they have been elected, as well as computer equipment and programs, office supplies, mobile phones and contracts telephone and internet.

Nevertheless, if MEPs attend less than half of the plenary sessions In a parliamentary year (from September to August) without justification, they receive half of this amount. This implies that, monthly, and without taking into account the national taxes that they could pay in their country of origin, MEPs earn 12,800 euros.

On the other hand, MEPs earn a daily diet of 350 euros —covering accommodation, meals and related expenses— every day they are in the European Parliament on official business. To receive it, they must sign an attendance record. On voting days in the plenary session, if a deputy misses more than half of the roll-call votes, this allowance is reduced by half. In the case of meetings outside the EU, the subsistence allowance is also halved.

Travel expenses (first class)

The European Chamber covers travel expenses so that MEPs can participate in different meetings, such as plenary sessions, parliamentary committees and those of political groups. Thus, they are reimbursed for the actual cost of tickets to attend these meetings, which mostly take place in Brussels and Strasbourg.

The maximum limits are set in the class airfare businessthe first class train ticket, or 0.58 euros per kilometer for car trips, up to a maximum of 1,000 kilometers. Furthermore, they set amounts depending on the distance and duration of the trip to cover various travel expenses (motorway tolls, excess baggage fees, reservation fees, etc.).

When the MEPs travel outside workplaces on behalf of the European ParliamentFor example, in commission fact-finding missions, expenses are charged to the budget of the commission or delegation that organizes it. In the event that trips are organized on an individual basis to perform official functions, such as attending a conference or making a work visit, it is Parliament which reimburses the expensesalthough with annual maximums.

If the trip takes place within the Member State where you have been chosen, The amount has a maximum annual amount that depends on the countrybut if it is abroad, the maximum is fixed: 4,886 euros per year.

The salary of life after being an MEP

When the MEPs ends their mandate are entitled to temporary compensation, equivalent to one month’s salary for each year in which they have been in office, for a maximum of two years. Thus, when a former deputy takes up his position elsewhere, the new salary is compensated by the transitional compensation.

Nevertheless, in case you are simultaneously entitled to a retirement or disability pension, you cannot perceive both, so you must choose one of the two. Former deputies are entitled to a pension when they reach the age of 63, which amounts to 3.5% of their allowance for each full year of their term plus one twelfth for each additional full month, but the amount cannot exceed 70 % total. The cost of pensions is borne by the Union budget.