The Hindu : International : E.U. all set for Parliament poll

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

International

International

E.U. all set for Parliament poll

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, JUNE 9. From Thursday till Sunday, 350 million European Union voters across 25 member-States will choose 732 Members of the European Parliament. Since 1979, when the first direct elections to the European Parliament took place, the voter turnout has significantly declined from 63 per cent to less than 48 per cent. At the same time, elections fought on pan-European themes have so far failed to materialise.

The intensely pro-European lobbies within each member-State are a dismal minority. It is ironical to note that after 25 years the European politicians have made only a modest progress in fostering pan-European issues and agenda. The member-States are still at odds with one another over taxation, governance, sovereignty, environment and above all the fundamentals of pan-European foreign and defence policies. The crowning achievement is of course the adoption of euro - the common currency, by 12 States and more are likely to join the European Monetary Union.

The parliamentarians have had a poor debating record with many of them being political lightweights in the ruling and opposing parties of the States concerned. In recent months, they have acquired much notoriety for enjoying high salaries and earning extra perks by faking their travel claims and often employing wives, girl friends and political associates as their assistants and making them beneficiaries of secretarial allowance of euro 150,000 ($184,000) per year. With basic salary, perks and travel allowances some European parliamentarians, according to media reports have earned even over $250,000 per year - all tax-free. As the elections approach, more than 200 candidates have signed a pledge not to exploit the perks and travel allowances.

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