Two declare they are 'full-time' politicians

Two Maltese MEPs, David Casa (PN) and Joseph Muscat (MLP), have declared their only income is their salary from the European Parliament.

This was stated in the MEPs' written financial declarations submitted to the Members Activities Office of the European Parliament as required by parliamentary regulations.

The other three Maltese MEPs declared they have other income besides their parliamentary salary.

At present, MEPs are paid the same salary as their national counterparts, which in the case of Malta amounts to about Lm6,500 annually. However, they also benefit from allowances including a reimbursement of the cost of flights, a subsistence allowance of Lm100 per working day and office expenses.

The European Parliament also allocates about €60,000 per MEP annually for the hiring of personal staff both in Brussels and in their respective constituencies.

Labour MEP Louis Grech declared he is directly and indirectly involved in a number of private companies. He is a director and shareholder in 1999 Ltd, F.E.V. Electronics Ltd, Kingsway Bijoux Ltd and XFL Holdings Ltd, which is in liquidation.

Mr Grech also disclosed his shareholding in 10 other private companies, namely Aquaculture Developments Ltd, Business Ventures Management Ltd, Grech and Bugeja Ltd, Grech and Grech Canteen Caterers Ltd (in liquidation), SG Catering Ltd, X & Roo Ltd (in liquidation), 228/229 Ltd, Blue Salt Ltd, Premium Reality Ltd and Sea and Air Services Ltd. He is also a director of Rada 99 Ltd, AC Cars Manufacturing Ltd and AC Advanced Vehicle Technology Ltd.

Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil declared that apart from being an MEP he is also a partner in the law firm Ganado Sammut Advocates and is also paid for being chairman of the Airport Shopping Association.

Labour MEP and former Cabinet minister John Attard Montalto declared he is a partner in Schiriha, Attard Montalto and Galea Advocates, which employs a total of eight lawyers, and an "employee" of General Workers' Union Holdings Co Ltd, a private company owned by the union.

All five Maltese MEPs approved the declarations being made public through the European Parliament's internet portal.

A spokesman for the European Parliament told The Times the financial declarations of all the MEPs would be made public in the coming weeks.