DECISION OF THE BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

of 10 December 2018

amending the Implementing Measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament

(2018/C 466/02)

THE BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 223(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (1),

Having regard to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Article 69(1) of the Implementing Measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (2) (‘the Implementing Measures’), the amounts of the reimbursable travel expenses, daily subsistence allowance and general expenditure allowance may be index-linked annually by the Bureau, up to a maximum increase equal to the annual inflation rate in the European Union in October of the previous year, as published by Eurostat.

(2) The inflation rate in the European Union for the period from October 2017 to October 2018, as notified by Eurostat on 16 November 2018, stands at 2,2 %. The new amounts resulting from the adjustment needed in order to take that inflation rate into account should apply from 1 January 2019 and the Implementing Measures should be amended accordingly.

(3) Pursuant to Article 69(2) of the Implementing Measures, the maximum amount of parliamentary assistance costs defrayable in respect of the personal staff referred to in Article 33(4) of the Implementing Measures is, where appropriate, to be index-linked annually on the basis of data established pursuant to Article 65 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union laid down by Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 (3).

(4) In that connection, the Commission has fixed the adjustment rate for 2018 at 1,7 %. Accordingly, the maximum monthly amount defrayable for parliamentary assistance expenses should be increased to EUR 24 943 with effect from 1 July 2018.

(5) In the light of the accounts of the Additional (Voluntary) Pension Fund, it is necessary to take a number of economically inevitable measures with a view to improving the sustainability of the Additional (Voluntary) Pension Fund, to addressing the increasing liquidity problem and to reducing the actuarial deficit and the negative consequences for the European taxpayer.

(6) To this end, and with a view to respecting the acquired rights of beneficiaries already receiving a pension, the modalities for additional pensions for beneficiaries who do not, by 1 January 2019, fulfil all the conditions for receiving a pension should be modified as follows: the retirement age for beneficiaries of the Additional (Voluntary) Pension Scheme should be increased from the current age of 63 years to 65 years and a levy of 5 % should be introduced on all pension payments for pensions established after 1 January 2019. Those measures constitute the least intrusive measures possible for the persons concerned,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The Implementing Measures are amended as follows: (1) in Article 15, point (c) is replaced by the following: ‘(c) in the event of travel by car, with a reimbursement ceiling of 1 000 km per outward or inward journey: EUR 0,53/km, plus the cost of any ferry crossing or similar transportation required.’; (2) in Article 20(1), point (a) is replaced by the following: ‘(a) for the part of the journey between 0 and 50 km: EUR 23,63;’; (3) Article 22 is amended as follows: (a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: ‘1. The maximum annual amount which may be reimbursed in respect of travel expenses incurred in the cases referred to in Article 10(1), point (b) shall be EUR 4 454.’; (b) the first subparagraph of paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘3. The maximum annual amount which may be reimbursed in respect of the travel expenses actually incurred by committee or subcommittee chairs travelling to attend conferences or events which deal with a matter of European interest falling within the sphere of responsibility of their committee or subcommittee and which have a parliamentary dimension shall be EUR 4 454. Such participation shall require prior authorisation from the President of Parliament, following verification that appropriations up to the maximum amount indicated above are available.’; (4) in Article 24, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. If the official activity takes place on the territory of the Union, a Member shall receive a lump-sum allowance of EUR 320.’; (5) in Article 26, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. The monthly amount of the allowance under Article 25 shall be EUR 4 513.’; (6) in Article 33, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: ‘4. The maximum monthly amount defrayable in respect of all the personal staff referred to in Article 34 shall be EUR 24 943.’; (7) Article 76 is amended as follows: (a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: ‘1. An additional pension which becomes payable to former Members or other beneficiaries pursuant to Articles 1, 3 and 4 of Annex VII to the PEAM Rules before 1 January 2019 shall continue to be paid in accordance with that Annex as applicable until 31 December 2018.’; (b) paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. Any additional pension which on 1 January 2019 has not yet become payable, shall be determined and paid pursuant to Articles 1 and 2 of Annex VII to the PEAM Rules subject to the following conditions and derogations: (a) the pension shall be payable from the first day of the calendar month following the date when the Member reaches the age of 65 years; (b) the pension shall be subject to a special levy amounting to 5 % of the nominal amount of the pension. The levy shall be directly payable to the Additional (Voluntary) Pension Fund.’; (c) the following paragraph is inserted: ‘2a. The additional (voluntary) pension for other beneficiaries pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of Annex VII to the PEAM Rules which on 1 January 2019 has not yet become payable shall be subject to a special levy amounting to 5 % of the nominal amount of the pension. The levy shall be directly payable to the Additional (Voluntary) Pension Fund.’

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Decision shall apply from 1 January 2019, with the exception of Article 1(6), which shall apply from 1 July 2018.

(1) Decision 2005/684/EC, Euratom of the European Parliament of 28 September 2005 adopting the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (OJ L 262, 7.10.2005, p. 1).

(2) Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 19 May and 9 July 2008 concerning implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (OJ C 159, 13.7.2009, p. 1).

(3) OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1.