Every five years, the citizens of the European Union elect their representatives in the European Parliament.
The European Parliament is the only transnational assembly in the world directly elected by the citizens of each of the 27 member countries. MEPs represent the interests of EU citizens at a European level.
In 2024, 720 MEPs were elected – 15 more than in the previous elections.
All members of the European Parliament receive the same monthly salary of EUR 7,853.89 after taxes (though the final net figures depend on the tax regime of the MP’s country).
These Parliament budget-funded alaries are set at 38.5% of the basic salary of a judge at the CJEU (EU Court of Justice), as provided for in the Statute of Members of the European Parliament (Article 10).
Former Members of Parliament have the right to a pension upon reaching the age of 63, which represents 3.5% of their salary for each full year of service and one-twelfth of their salary for each additional full month, but which does not exceed 70% in total. Its cost is support by the EU budget.
If the deputy is entitled to an old-age pension and a disability pension at the same time, he or she cannot only receive one, reports news.ro.
In addition to their salary, MEPs, like members of national parliaments, are entitled to allowances that cover expenses incurred in the exercise of their parliamentary duties, often away from home. The monthly allowance for necessary general expenses is EUR 4,950 per month. They receive half of their allowance if they attend less than half of the plenary sessions in a parliamentary year without justification.
Furthermore, Per diem (EUR 350 per day), also known as the residence allowance, is a lump sum that covers accommodation, meals and related expenses for each day that an MEP is at the European Parliament on official business. MEPs receive half of the per diem if they do not participate in more than half of the votes by roll call on the days when plenary voting takes place, even if they are present and sign the attendance register. For meetings outside the EU, the per diem is reduced by half.
At the end of their mandate, MEPs are entitled to a transitional allowance, equivalent to one month’s salary per year of mandate, for a period of no more than two years.
If a former deputy occupies a new position elsewhere, the new salary is deducted from the transitional allowance.
MEPs can use official vehicles to attend meetings or events in Brussels or Strasbourg.
MEPs have first-class travel tickets paid off by the European Parliament. Reimbursements, however, are capped off after a fixed amount.
MEPs are entitled to reimbursement of two thirds of their medical expenses.
MEPs freely choose their assistants. All deputies are entitled to the same amount and do not receive the funds themselves. They cannot hire close relatives, and assistants must not carry out activities that could create a conflict of interest.
