MEPs water down reform of their expenses system

The European Parliament has voted down several proposals for more efficient management and stricter controls of MEPs' allowances.

MEPs on Tuesday (12 April) voted strongly in favour of a report (483 votes to 69) by liberal MEP Ona Jukneviciene, approving the Parliament's spending in 2003.

The report points to the differences in MEPs' salaries and refers to a common Statute for Members of the Parliament to make the system more "clear, transparent and fair".

However, MEPs ref...