TransparencY
Because it matters to me.
Transparent deputy
The income of elected representatives is often the subject of heated debate. In my opinion, the pay of representatives should be calculated such that it ensures political independence. At the same time, publicity and transparency are part of a democratic society.
The following is my report to provide you, as citizens, with the necessary insight into my salary, my office and staffing, and my additional income as a Member of the European Parliament.
Rene Repasi MdEP
My earnings
My monthly remuneration
The monthly salary for Members of the European Parliament, before deduction of taxes, has been 10 075,18 euros since July 1, 2023, in accordance with the Uniform Statute for Members of the European Parliament. This salary is fixed by law and corresponds to 38.5% of the basic salary of judges at the Court of Justice of the European Union. My remuneration is paid from the budget of the European Parliament and is subsequently subject to EU Community tax. In addition, an accident insurance contribution is deducted. After the appropriate deduction, my remuneration amounts to 7 853,89 euros. On this contribution, like any other citizen, I pay income tax in the Federal Republic of Germany, whereby the double taxation agreement is applied.
My office equipment
(office and triple housekeeping)
Members of the European Parliament, like members of the Bundestag and the Landtag, receive various allowances to cover the costs they incur in exercising their parliamentary mandate. These are broken down as follows (all as of January 1, 2024):
To pay for material expenses (e.g., office rent for the constituency office, constituency office equipment and office organization, telephone bills and postage, and for the purchase, operation and maintenance of computer and telecommunications equipment, etc.), there is a monthly tax-free expense allowance of 4 950 euros from the European Parliament. Because all mandate-related expenses are to be compensated with this lump sum, I am not allowed to claim any income-related expenses in my tax return.
To cover the costs of accommodation in Strasbourg and Brussels as well as meals and other costs, MEPs receive a lump-sum allowance of 350 euros on meeting days on which they are present. Since I as an MEP – unlike other taxpayers – am not allowed to claim income-related expenses from the tax office, this lump sum serves to compensate for the additional costs of double or triple housekeeping (in the constituency, in Brussels and in Strasbourg). During plenary sessions, the per diem allowance is reduced by half for all Members who did not participate in at least half of the roll-call votes, even if they were present.
Travel expenses to and from meetings in which I participate as a Member of the European Parliament shall be reimbursed, upon presentation of receipts, in accordance with the actual ticket costs in the case of rail and air travel, and at the rate of EUR 0.58 per kilometer in the case of travel by car for the direct route between my place of residence and my place of work.
Regulation for staffing
Running a parliamentary office is like a small business. In carrying out my duties, I am allowed to rely on the support of employees who are paid through budgetary sources, the amount of which is determined by the European Parliament.
I am allowed to select my own staff. Accredited Parliamentary Assistants (APA) based in Brussels (or Luxembourg/Strasbourg) are directly managed by the Parliament’s administration in accordance with the European Parliament’s Conditions of Employment for fixed-term staff. Staff members working in the constituency are supervised by so-called “qualified paying agents” (mostly tax advisors), who ensure compliance with tax and social security regulations. Additionally, I am allowed to employ interns, located either at the parliament or in the constituency for an internship allowance.
Currently, the maximum monthly amount that I, as an MEP, may access to cover all associated gross salaries, travel expenses and administrative expenses is 28 696 euros. These funds are not paid to me, but directly to my staff.
The total cost of local staff and interns may not exceed 75% of the funds available for parliamentary assistance, while the costs of service providers may not exceed 25% of these funds.
Ancillary income
In addition to my mandate as an MEP, I still continue my professorship at Erasmus University Rotterdam on a reduced scale. For this I receive a gross salary of 1 442 euros. I have declared this in my “Declaration of Members’ Financial Interests” in accordance with the transparency rules of the European Parliament.
I do not receive any additional income.
As a Member of Parliament, I engage in daily conversations with numerous individuals, officials, and representatives, as well as interest groups. This is part of my role because it is essential for shaping policies that are closely aligned with the lives of the people. To provide you with the necessary transparency, I document all of my meetings with lobbyists.