Do the people we elect to the European Parliament actually show up for work?
It's a question many people are asking themselves. A new website, called WhereIsMyMEP, now allows them to find out by tracking the attendance of MEPs in the European Parliament.
The tracker – which only uses data that is publicly available, but often difficult or annoying to find – was built out of frustration over the lack of transparency in the EU.
"We elect MEPs, and we do not really know what they do for the next couple of years," said Alex Monetón, who created the website. "And no one seems to really interrogate that."
While the tracker shows that the attendance records are generally high, quite a few MEPs were not present often: the MEP with the lowest score was only present 18% of the time – despite the fact that an MEP earns nearly €11,000 gross per month (around €8,500 net).
What about your MEP? Are they doing their job?
Belgium in Brief
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1. ‘Where is my MEP?’ New website tracks which officials show up to work
"We elect MEPs, and we do not really know what they do for the next couple of years. And no one seems to really interrogate that." Read more.
2. The Belgian town that still hangs people in 2025
You might think public executions are a thing of the past. Not in Belgium. Read more.
3. Four families sleeping rough in Brussels sue Belgian Migration Minister
Through "a deliberate, planned and explicit action," they say the minister is forcing them to live on the streets, "in total poverty, without shelter or food." Read more.
4. Why is one of Belgium’s most decorated athletes out in the cold?
Nafissatou ‘Nafi’ Thiam, who won heptathlon gold at three consecutive Olympic Games, is in an ongoing dispute with Belgian Athletics. Read more.
5. Where can women attend self-defence classes in Belgium?
Learning how to defend yourself is never a bad idea. Read more.
6. California governor and Trump rival welcomes Belgians ‘in these difficult times’
In his address, Newsom implicitly criticised Trump’s policies, emphasising that California is "the least Trumpian state" in the United States. Read more.
7. Brussels’ Palais de Justice hit by major power cut
The Palais de Justice in Brussels has been hit by a power outage since 01:00 on Tuesday, affecting operations in the building. Read more.
