MEP's yesterday approved an increase of €9.4 million for this year's European Parliament budget, adding €1,500 a month to their staff expenses allowance.

MEPs receive €17,540 a month, over and above their salary and a raft of other allowances, to recruit staff for their political offices both in Brussels and in their constituency.

With the enactment of the Lisbon Treaty earlier this year, MEPs argued that staff allowance had to reflect the "added responsibility" they shouldered and, therefore, the need to be able to hire more staff.

This latest increase, which comes amid calls for restraint among EU member states due to the recession and the global financial turmoil, will see MEPs staff allowances this year rise to €19,040 a month. The money does not go directly into the MEPs pockets but is used to pay for the hiring of staff and consultants.

The decision was approved during a vote in Strasbourg with 509 votes in favour, 111 against and 31 abstentions. All five Maltese MEPs voted in favour and the Liberals and the British Conservatives voted against.

Beyond this year, MEPs are already lobbying with the Commission and member states for another €1,500 monthly increase in next year's budget, bringing the total staff allowances to €20,540 a month. The argument is that the €3,000 monthly rise in staff allowance (for 2010 and 2011) will make it possible for them to recruit an extra full-time assistant each.

With the latest increases, the EP budget for 2010 will stand at €1.706 billion.

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