The 17 Bulgarian MEPs will not have the same privileges as their colleagues in the national parliament after legislation was amended. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)
Bulgarian Parliament voted legislation on Friday, which deprives Bulgarian members of the European Parliament of the right to use parliamentary cars, state-owned apartments, government holiday houses as well as the VIP service at Sofia Airport.
These changes were made at the second reading of the MEP Election Act after the first reading had actually envisaged equal status and privileges for Bulgarian MEPs and for deputies in Bulgarian Parliament.
The newly voted act allows Bulgarian MEPs access to state and municipal authorities in their professional capacity and to any relevant information and documents. However, it also obliges them to declare their income, expenditures, and property in Bulgaria and abroad before the National Audit Office.
The parliament also made changes in the Public Servants Act which state that Bulgarian public servants can occupy a position in an EU institution for a period of up to four years while continuing to receive the salary for their previous position in Bulgaria in addition to their new salary.