Posted on 04/12/2005 6:35:30 PM PDT by 1066AD
MEPs veto moves to end fraud scandals By David Rennie in Brussels (Filed: 13/04/2005)
Members of the European Parliament rejected moves yesterday to clean up scandal-ridden arrangements for their travel allowances and expenses. Their decision prompted anger and disbelief from British MEPs, who voted for proposed reforms.
In a series of votes carried by a margin of six to four at a full session of the parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs resisted proposals for audits of their accounts and turned down calls to impose sanctions on those found to have defrauded the taxpayer.
The votes "gave an all-clear to embezzlement", said Chris Davies MEP, the leader of the British Liberal Democrats in the parliament.
Mr Davies expressed particular disappointment after his fellow MEPs voted to continue a trust-based system for payments into the parliament's private pension scheme.
The scheme is wide open to fraud. MEPs who choose to join can pay up to £664 a month into their pension plans, with their contribution deducted from their office expense account, not from their salary.
In theory, MEPs then reimburse their office accounts for pension contributions but no checks are carried out.
"I reimburse my contribution every month but there is no need to present receipts for office expenses and there's no audit. You could use the allowance for any purpose you like," said Mr Davies.
The parliament also voted to maintain its travel allowance scheme. By buying cheaper fares in advance, or using budget airlines, a British MEP could easily make up to £500 profit in a week.
MEP = Member of European Parliament
Quelle "shock" mein Idiotas!
This is why the EU will never raise to compete with the US.
The EU pols are jealous of their Canadian buddies' ability to rip off the taxpayers while dumping on the "unethical" behavior of the US. LOL
For most Europeans, like all Africans, Mideasterners and South Americans, and most Asians, governmental and international/NGO service is a free ticket to fraud and bribery. It is part of their culture, and as we embrace them, we embrace it too.
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