European Union MPs abuse expenses to become millionaires

London, Feb 23 (ANI): A leaked report has revealed how European Union MPs are becoming millionaires at the expense of taxpayers in just one five year term through expenses and allowances.he internal report into the system of allowances conducted by Robert Galvin, a European Union internal audit official, was kept secret when it was carried out last year

A leaked copy of the 92-page document details the full extent of "corruption, dodgy dealing and poor financial controls" in the European Parliament, The Telegraph reported.

It revealed that some MEPs claimed money for assistants that were neither accredited nor registered with the parliament.

"Having acquired the report, we felt it was right to publish it so taxpayers across the EU could see the widespread evidence of corruption, dodgy dealing and poor financial controls in the European Parliament," Matthew Elliott, the chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said.

Elliott said each MEP could save more than one million pound from their expenses and pension benefits over a five-year term at the European Parliament.

Over five years, each MEP can claim this includes a subsistence allowance of 117,000 Euros, staff allowance of 489,840 Euros, office expenses of 243,120 Euros, travel expenses of 60,000 Euros and an accrued pension of 350,000 pound.

This does not include the MEP salary of 63,291 pound, which is set to increase to 73,584 pound after the European Parliament elections in June 2009.

In his report, Galvin found that overpayments of parliamentary allowances were common. (ANI)