- When were the European elections held?
- How many MEPs in total are there?
- Why do I have more than one MEP representing me?
- How many women MEPs are there?
- What are Parliament's 23 official languages?
- Is there a register of MEPs' interests?
- How much do MEPs earn and is it taxed?
- How much do we contribute to the EU?
- How much does the European Parliament cost?
- I should like to work for the European Parliament. How do I apply?
- I think my human rights have been infringed. Where do I go?
- Which country holds the EU Presidency?
- Are meetings of the European Parliament public?
- Why does Parliament move between Brussels and Strasbourg?
When were the European elections held?
4-7 June 2009. In the UK the elections took place on Thursday 4 June and MEPs were elected for a 5-year period. Please see our dedicated European elections section of our website.
How many MEPs in total are there?
There are currently 736 MEPs, elected in June 2009. However the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force in December 2009, provided for 751 seats. The only country to have fewer MEPs under the new treaty is Germany which will lose 3 seats. Therefore there will be a temporary rise to 754 during this current legislature. This requires a treaty change to be agreed by all Member States.
Why do I have more than one MEP representing me?
MEPs are elected on a regional basis through proportional representation. You will therefore have a selection of MEPs representing your electoral region. They belong to different political parties and sit on specific European Parliamentary Committees.
Click here for more information.
How many women MEPs are there?
There are currently 257 women MEPs out of an EU-wide total of 736 (as at 14 July 2009). 23 of the 72 UK MEPs are female.
What are Parliament's 23 official languages?
Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish.
Is there a register of MEPs' interests?
Yes, the register is available for consultation in Parliament offices in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg (during plenary sessions). Individual MEPs' declaration of financial interests is available on their biographical details page on
www.europarl.europa.eu
How much do MEPs earn and is it taxed?
Following the implementation of a single Statute, MEPs currently earn a gross monthly salary of €7,807.12.
The salary is from Parliament's budget and is subject to an EU tax and accident insurance contribution, after which the salary is €6,080.33. Member States can also subject the salary to national taxes
. In the UK the salary is also taxed by the Inland Revenue in order bring the total tax paid up to the level of taxation payable by a UK resident The basic salary is set at 38.5% of the basic salary of a judge at the European Court of Justice.
MEPs who sat in Parliament before the 2009 elections were given the opportunity to keep the previous national system for salary, transitional allowance and pensions, for the entire duration of their membership of the European Parliament.
How much do we contribute to the EU?
In 2008, Britain's net contribution was £3.3 bn. For further details please see HM Treasury's European Community Finances: statement on the 2009 EC Budget and measures to counter fraud and financial mismanagement:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/european_community_finances_2009.pdf
How much does the European Parliament cost?
The European Parliament's budget for 2010 is €1.61 billion (just over €3 per EU resident). Of this total, €317 million is allocated for buildings, furniture, equipment and similar expenses, €521 million on staff (permanent and temporary), €220 million on MEPs' expenses, €161 million on their assistants, and €108 million on other staff and outside services. As of May 2009, the number of officials and temporary staff working for Parliament (including its political groups) was 6166.
I should like to work for the European Parliament. How do I apply?
Most recruitment to the European Parliament and any of the EU institutions is handled by EPSO (European Personnel Selection Office) through open competitions. For further information see
'Job Opportunities' under 'Infocentre'.
I think my human rights have been infringed. Where do I go?
The Human Rights Act is UK law and gives legal effect to the European Convention on Human Rights (Council of Europe, NOT the EU). Please seek advice from your local Citizen's Advice Bureau.
Which country holds the EU Presidency?
Spain currently holds the EU Presidency for the first half of 2010. For further information please see http://www.eu2010.es
Are meetings of the European Parliament public?
Committees normally meet in public and all plenary sessions are public.
Why does Parliament move between Brussels and Strasbourg?
The EU's national governments unanimously decided in 1992 to fix permanently the seat of the EU institutions. The official seat and venue for most of the plenary sessions is Strasbourg, Parliamentary Committees and Political Group meetings are held in Brussels and administrative staff are based in Luxembourg. Any change to this current system would need to be part of a new treaty and unanimously agreed by all Member States.