EN Official Journal of the European Union C 335/12

DECISION OF THE BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

of 23 March and 14 November 2011

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

2011/C 335/07

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 Rules 8 and 23 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) Where Members take taxis in Parliament's places of work during weeks in which no official European Parliament activities are taking place, the fares should be reimbursed in the same way as for taxi travel during ordinary working weeks.

(2) Where Members travel outside the territory of the European Union to take part in an official activity, they often have to cover the cost of their visa and related expenses. Given that these costs arise in the course of official business, it would be appropriate for Members to receive reimbursement thereof, provided that they submit the necessary supporting documents. The change to the rules which this involves should apply as from 1 January 2012 so as to ensure that all journeys in a single year are treated in the same way.

(3) In certain circumstances arising in the course of official journeys, Members are entitled to reimbursement of the cost of repatriation. Bearing in mind that repatriation may also give rise to associated costs, it would be appropriate to provide for those costs to be reimbursed as well. In order to meet this obligation, Parliament should take out an insurance policy. The insurance policy should take effect on the date of application of the relevant provision.

(4) Where, in accordance with a well-established practice in the Member State concerned, Members have agreed to make redundancy payments to their local assistants that exceed the statutory minimum, they may, in order to cover the relevant expenses, instruct their paying agent to set aside funds from the parliamentary assistance allowance and to carry them over to the following financial years provided that various conditions are respected. It would be appropriate for the relevant provision of this Decision to apply from 14 July 2009,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Implementing Measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (2) are amended as follows:

1. In Article 22, paragraph 2a is replaced by the following: ‘2a. Where a Member travels to one of Parliament's places of work during a week in which no official European Parliament activities are taking place, reimbursement of additional travel expenses shall be confined to travel costs, including taxi fares within the limits laid down in the Bureau rules governing the use of official cars by Members of the European Parliament, and hotel costs.’;

2. In Article 24(3), the following point is inserted: ‘(ba) on presentation of supporting documents, reimbursement of visa costs and related expenses;’;

3. Article 29 is amended as follows: (a) the title is replaced by the following: ‘Assistance to Members on official journeys’; (b) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: ‘1. A Member who, in the course of an official journey as referred to in Article 10(1), point (a), (2) and (2a), falls seriously ill or is the victim of an accident or of unforeseen circumstances that prevent the journey from proceeding smoothly shall be entitled to the assistance of Parliament. That assistance shall include the organisation of repatriation and the assumption of responsibility for payment of any associated costs. The Member, or, where appropriate, his or her representative, may request repatriation to one of Parliament’s places of work or to his or her place of residence.’; (c) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘3. Parliament shall discharge its assistance obligations by means of an insurance policy. The rights of Members referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be exercised under the conditions laid down in the policy.’; (d) the following paragraph is added: ‘4. The insurance policy shall cover inter alia the cost of provision of the following assistance: — assistance in the event of serious illness, accident or death of a Member, — assistance and early return in the event of natural disaster, major disturbances of public order or serious illness, accident or death of a relative of the Member, — logistical and administrative assistance in the event of loss or theft of documents, — assistance in the event of legal action taken out against the Member, — supplementary life and invalidity insurance (outstanding balance).’;

4. In Article 40, the following paragraph is added: ‘5. In order to cover expenses relating to the termination of an employment contract that cannot be defrayed under paragraphs 1 to 4, Members may instruct their paying agent to set aside funds from the amount referred to in Article 33(4) and to carry them over to the following financial years provided that the following conditions are satisfied: (a) the Member has, through appropriate written documentation, established that, outside the European Parliament and without the participation of Members of the European Parliament, a well-established practice exists in the sector to which the employment contract relates whereby redundancy payments above the statutory minimum are made; (b) redundancy amounts corresponding to the practice identified under point (a) have been agreed in the employment contract of the local assistant. The amounts agreed may in no circumstances exceed one month's salary for each year of employment; (c) the amounts set aside are declared per employee during the annual regularisation procedure under Article 39. The paying agent shall open a separate bank account for the funds and shall each year provide a bank statement for regularisation. In every financial year, the paying agent may only set aside amounts corresponding to employment periods from the start of the ongoing parliamentary term until the end of that financial year or, if the contract expires in that year, until the end of the contract. Interest collected on the amounts set aside shall be declared at the time of the annual regularisation procedure. Any surplus or unused amounts shall be reimbursed to Parliament on an annual basis and at the end of the employment contract concerned.’.

Article 2

1. This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2. This Decision shall apply from the same day, with the exception of the following provisions:

(a) Article 1, point 2, which shall apply from 1 January 2012;

(b) Article 1, point 4, which shall apply from 14 July 2009.

(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).