EN Official Journal of the European Union C 340/3

DECISION OF THE BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

of 15 September 2014

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

2014/C 340/04

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) (‘the Statute’),

Having regard to Rules 10 and 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) Some Members of the European Parliament continue to be paid salary, transitional allowance and pension in accordance with their respective national systems, having exercised the option provided for in Article 25 of the Statute in 2009. Such decisions are ‘final and irrevocable’ according to Article 26(2) of the Statute and are effective ‘for the entire duration of their membership of the European Parliament’ according to Article 25(1) of the Statute.

(2) Under Article 81(4) of the Implementing Measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (2) (‘the Implementing Measures’), such Members remain entitled to reimbursement of medical expenses by Parliament provided that they are in receipt of a national pension and that they do not enjoy primary cover against the risk of illness.

(3) The application of Article 81(4) of the Implementing Measures has proved insufficient to cover all circumstances in which a Member should be entitled to claim reimbursement of medical expenses from Parliament.

(4) Where, during a Member’s mandate, he or she suffers a recognised serious illness preventing the completion of that mandate, Parliament should, subject to the fulfilment of appropriate conditions, ensure that the necessary ongoing treatment can be continued for as long as is medically necessary.

(5) In particular, reimbursement of medical expenses should be limited to cases in which the serious illness was caused by an event which occurred during the mandate and prevented the Member from exercising the last part thereof, that illness was recognised to be a serious illness by Parliament during the mandate and the treatment of the illness was initiated during the Member’s mandate.

(6) In addition, where medical expenses are partially covered at national level, Parliament’s liability for such expenses should be complementary only,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 81 of the Implementing Measures, the following paragraph is added:

‘5. The former Members who are in receipt of a national pension, pursuant to Article 25 or Article 29 of the Statute, and are suffering from a recognised serious illness shall be entitled to reimbursement of their medical expenses related to the continuation of an ongoing treatment, in accordance with the conditions laid down in these implementing measures, provided that: (a) the serious illness was caused by an event which occurred during the mandate and prevented the Member from exercising the last part thereof; (b) the illness was recognised as a serious illness by Parliament during the Member’s mandate; and, (c) the treatment of the illness was initiated during the Member’s mandate. If the former Member enjoys a primary cover, this entitlement shall apply on a complementary basis, i.e. only for those costs which are not covered by the primary cover.’.

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 July 2014.

(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).