EN Official Journal of the European Union C 390/4

DECISION OF THE BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

of 12 December 2012

amending the implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament

2012/C 390/07

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) In its resolutions of 26 October 2011 on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2012 as modified by the Council — all sections — and letters of amendment Nos 1/2012 and 2/2012 to the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2012 (2) and of 29 March 2012 on Parliament's estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2013 (3), Parliament called for the utmost efficiency of Members' travel with a view to making budgetary savings in 2012 and in subsequent years until the end of the current parliamentary term.

(2) At its meeting of 10 September 2012, the Bureau of the European Parliament decided to reduce spending on Members' travel expenses by 5 %. In order to implement that decision, it is necessary to adopt certain amendments to the implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (4) (‘the implementing measures’).

(3) With a view to setting a limit for reimbursements of travel expenses in the event of travel by car, a cap should be introduced at 1 000 km per outward or inward journey.

(4) The highest degree of flexibility should be allowed for in updating the tariffs used for the purposes of the implementing measures.

(5) With a view to limiting costs related to journeys, only expenses incurred by Members in making one return journey in the middle of a Parliament working week between a place of work or a meeting venue and their place of residence or another point of departure in the Member State in which they were elected should henceforth be reimbursed. Furthermore, such expenses should not be reimbursed where the journeys in question are made during weeks set aside in Parliament's official calendar of business for activities away from its places of work,

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 0,50/km, plus the cost of any ferry crossing or similar transportation required.’;

(2) in Article 17, paragraph 9 is replaced by the following: ‘9. The tariffs used for the purposes of these implementing measures shall be updated periodically and at least twice a year.’;

(3) in Article 18, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. Except during weeks set aside in Parliament's official calendar of business for activities away from its places of work, Members shall also be entitled to reimbursement of the expenses incurred in making one return journey in the middle of a Parliament working week between a place of work or a meeting venue and their place of residence or another point of departure in the Member State in which they were elected (hereinafter referred to as “intermediate journeys”).’.

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 1 January 2013.

(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) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0461.

(3) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0109.

(4) 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).