Duff signs up to pledge for parliamentary reform

7.56.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th Apr 2004

Andrew Duff MEP has pledged himself to continue working towards key internal reforms to the European Parliament's system of pay and expenses, place of business and code of conduct. In Strasbourg today Duff re-affirmed his commitment to radical reform.

The pledge comes at a time when the Parliament's arrangements for remuneration of MEPs and the monthly Brussels to Strasbourg trip are coming under intense scrutiny.

Mr Duff said:

"The urgent need to reform MEPs' pay and expenses has been a running sore for far too long. It is worth remembering that the Parliament recently put forward a workable Members Statute which included a common salary and a fully transparent expenses system based on actually incurred costs. Unfortunately this deal was rejected by national governments in the Council of Ministers."

"That is why I am signing this pledge. I call on all other candidates in the East of England to sign up before the June elections."

The full text of the pledge:

If elected Member of the European Parliament in June 2004, I pledge to work for:

1. Greater efficiency: by demanding an end to the European Parliament's three working places arrangement, and giving it a single seat in Brussels.

2. Enhanced transparency: through reform of the system of expenses, including the reimbursement of travel expenses only on the basis of costs actually incurred.

3. Improved accountability: through the introduction of a strengthened code of conduct setting out MEPs' rights and responsibilities, and through further reform of Parliament's Rules of Procedure.