How much do Members of the European Parliament earn? Salaries and pensions of European deputies

How Much Does a Member of the European Parliament Earn?

Have you ever wondered how much a senator or deputy in Italy earns? Well, the salary of a European Parliament member might surprise you.
With 705 members in the European Parliament, let’s take a closer look at their earnings.

The Breakdown of an MEP’s Income

Calculating the exact monthly earnings of a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is not straightforward.
Firstly, there is a basic salary for the role, amounting to €7,956.87 gross per month, which nets down to €6,200.72.

The second source of income comes from allowances for general expenses, such as office management, telephone bills, and computers, totaling €4,299 per month.

MEPs also receive a daily allowance of €304 for each day of attendance, which can be reduced by half if they do not participate in at least half of the votes.

Furthermore, there are reimbursements for travel expenses, based on submitted receipts, and a car allowance of €0.50 per kilometer.

Another income stream is the “400 funds,” allocated to parliamentary groups and then distributed to members for various activities, providing an additional €2,630 per month per MEP.

Upon the end of their term, MEPs are entitled to a termination allowance equal to one month’s salary for each year of their tenure, but this is not paid if they hold another public office.

In addition to covering two-thirds of medical expenses, MEPs are eligible for a pension starting at the age of 63, amounting to 3.5% of their salary for each year served, averaging over €2,700 per month.

Additional Earnings and Costs

In total, an MEP can earn up to €21,000 per month, excluding reimbursements and other benefits.
By comparison, Italian Senators earn a monthly salary of €14,634.89, while Deputies receive €13,971.35.

MEPs can also receive up to €24,526 per month to cover expenses for up to three assistants per MEP, increased from €21,000 until last year.

In 2023, the cost of the European Parliament, with three locations (Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg) and around 7,000 employees, amounted to €2 billion, representing over 1.2% of the total annual budget of the European Union.