The Work

MEPs are elected to deal with European issues. The main task of an MEP is to vote on European legislation, shaping the direction it takes.

Work activities of an MEP include:

• Assisting in the scrutiny of legislation

• Speaking in debates

• Constituency work

Every MEP has an opportunity to produce amendments to proposals, to argue for them at committee level, and try to win support for them at the monthly voting session in Strasbourg. These amendments reflect the amount of contact MEPs have with civil society and can range from interaction with significant lobbying groups to small NGOs or local communities. Irish MEPs came middle of the league in the average number of amendments proposed at committee stage.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Linguistic

The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.

To become an MEP you must be elected. To stand for election you must be a national of one of the EU countries.

Each country decides on the form its election will take, but must guarantee equality of the sexes and a secret ballot. EU elections are by proportional representation. Voting age is 18, aside from Austria, where it is 16.

Seats are allocated on the basis of population of each Member State. Slightly more than a third of MEPs are women. MEPs are grouped by political affinity, not nationality. MEPs divide their time between their constituencies, Strasbourg - where 12 plenary sittings a year are held - and Brussels, where they attend additional plenary sittings, as well as committee and political group meetings. The terms and conditions for Members are laid out in the Statute of 2009 MEP Member of European Parliament.

Who can become an MEP?

Every Irish citizen and every resident citizen of another EU Member State, over 21 years of age, who is not disqualified by Community or national law and is not standing as a candidate in another Member State, is eligible to be elected in Ireland to the European Parliament. Persons undergoing a prison sentence in excess of six months and persons of unsound mind are disqualified from election.

Certain occupations are incompatible with membership of the Parliament, for example, Ministers and Ministers of State, Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, members of the judiciary, members and officials of various EU institutions, civil servants, wholetime members of the Defence Forces and Gardaí (police).

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €80k - €107k

€107,194 pa or €8,932,86 monthly before tax. (Salary is fixed at 38.5% of a European Court of Justice judge). (After EU tax/accident insurance, €6,962.95 monthly). Member states can also tax the salary.

Data Source(s):
European Parliament EPSO

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The changes in classification as a result of the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017 are partly responsible for the strong employment growth rate for this occupation, although employment also grew strongly between 2019 and 2020, and continued to grow in 2022. Those employed are primarily female (69%), working full-time (90%), and over half (55%) held third-level qualifications. With a higher than average share of persons employed aged 55 years and older (31% compared to 19% for all occupations), replacement demand is likely to result in opportunities opening up for these roles even if employment growth slows.

There was a significant number of vacancies advertised online for clerical officer roles across the civil service and Government administration roles. However, recent job hires for 2022 far exceeded employment growth indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. While job openings are set to continue, upskilling and reskilling may also be required for those already employed in these occupations in order to reach targets set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2024 in areas such as in digital skills.

• EU Careers - European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)

  • Candidate Contact Service, Office C-80 00/40, B1049 Brussels
  • 00800 6789 1011
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• European Movement Ireland

  • 8 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2,
  • (0)1 662 5815
  • [email protected]
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