The Greens in the parliament have for long supported increased transparency of the monthly general expenditure allowance or office allowance of 4,299 euros payed to each MEP. It is meant for covering all expenses related to parliamentary activity otherwise not provided for. This can range from office supplies, phone bills and purchase of ICT equipment to meetings and travel expenses in MEP’s own countries.

Majority of the MEPs have declined to report the use of the allowance arguing it would increase the bureacracy. That is not true. Establishing a separate account for the allowance and hiring an accountant to make the official calculations should not be too difficult.

See Heidi’s general allowance report from 2014