Italian MPs Most Absent from European Parliament

Italian MEPs are the most absent from the European Parliament, according to a study by the University of Duisburg-Essen. The study shows that on average only one Italian EU-parliamentarian in two participates to the plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels. The survey sifted through 4,437 roll call votes held between 1999 and 2003 where it emerged that on average only 56.2% of Italian MEPs took part. The Italian MEPs receive the highest salary among the other deputies, with Italians getting almost 11,000 euro per month while the Spaniards get 2,600 euro.

The most diligent MEPs are those from Luxembourg with a presence of 85.2%, followed by the Dutch (84.9%), Finnish (83%), German (82.5%), Swedish (81.5%), Greek (80.9%) and Belgians (80.1%). Below the 80% threshold one finds the Austrians (78.2%), Spanish (77.2%), the British (76.4%), the Danes (76%), the Portuguese (73.4%), the French (72.4%) and the Irish, down the list before Italy, with 69%. (EUobserver.com)