Labour MEP pledges to donate half his salary to philanthropic fund

Labour incumbent Joseph Cuschieri has a plan for his handsome MEP’s salary if he is re-elected for another five years: give half of his earnings, €186,000, over the next five years to a ‘good causes fund’ he will set up.

Cuschieri, whose candidature came after a volte-face on his declaration that the Labour electoral machine was not backing him for office, is claiming that if re-elected he will give back half his earnings “to the society that gave him so much throughout the years.”

The former MP, who belatedly took up Malta’s sixth seat upon the ratification of an extension of the European Parliament in 2011, is currently head of the Labour delegation.

Cuschieri made his proposal during a speech in which he recounted his childhood and the efforts of his parents to raise him.

He said he would donate €3,100 monthly in a fund for philanthropic organisations, families in need, and sporting, social and cultural NGOs.

“This financial commitment will be transparently declared in my assets’ declaration, and I will resign if this is not honoured,” Cuschieri said.

The MEP spent the first years of his childhood raised in a nuns’ institute, where he says he was instilled with the values of sincerity, hard work and sacrifice that had contributed to his political success.

“I believe politics has to go beyond what electoral manifestos and slogans say. Politics is there to put people at its centre and improve their quality of life.

“Through this fund my service in the European Parliament will be helping good causes, and also show that an MEP is not just there for the salary the position offers.”

Since July 2009, all 766 MEPs receive equal remuneration, that is to say, €7,956.87 gross wage, or €6,200.72 net. Previously, they were paid by their national parliaments, which often led to significant inequalities.

As well as the monthly €6,200, MEPs receive a daily allowance, a general expenditure allowance, and reimbursements for travel expenses. Capped since 2012, these allowances have not increased in the period of 2012-2014. The next European Parliament, which will be voted in May, will decide whether to maintain or increase allowances.

The daily allowance, also called “subsistence allowance”, covers accommodation and costs related to the everyday presence of MEPs at the parliament during recess. It amounts to €304 per day, and €152 per day for non EU meetings.

General expenditure allowance amounts to €4,299 per month, and covers the costs of their offices, telephones and computers. For MEPs who fail to attend half of plenary sessions, their general expenditure allowance is halved.

In order to carry out their parliamentary duties, MEPs are entitled to parliamentary assistants. They have €21,209 at their disposal, to pay a maximum of three certified assistants.

According to a study carried out by the London School of Economics, the remuneration of MEPs does not necessarily have a direct influence on the quality of their work. On the contrary, in certain cases their involvement can be inversely proportionate to their remuneration.