On 20 September 1976 in Brussels, representatives of the Member States of the European Communities adopt the Act concerning the election of the representatives to the Assembly by direct universal suffrage. The Act stipulates that the term of office for Members of the European Parliament is five years (Article 3).

On 14 December 1976, a European Parliament study group proposes a series of guidelines to the Council on a uniform statute for Members of the European Parliament.

On 15 September 1983, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on the Statute of its Members which includes a common system of allowances.

Protocol (No 36) annexed to the Treaties establishing the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community by the Treaty establishing a single Council and a single Commission of the European Communities of 8 April 1965. Consolidated version including the amendments of the Treaty of Amsterdam of 2 October 1997.

European Parliament Resolution of 3 December 1998 on the draft Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

On 3 December 1998, the European Parliament adopts a draft Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

Following the European Parliament’s adoption, on 3 December 1998, of a draft Statute for its Members, the General Affairs Council of 26 April 1999 reaches agreement on the main elements of an overall compromise regarding the draft Statute.

Entschließung des Europäischen Parlaments vom 5. Mai 1999 zum Entwurf eines Statuts für die Abgeordneten des Europäischen Parlaments.

In May 2000, a Group of Independent Eminent Persons submits a recommendation concerning the harmonisation of the Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

Protocol (No 36) annexed to the Treaties establishing the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community by the Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities of 8 April 1965. Consolidated version including the amendments introduced by the Treaty of Nice of 26 February 2001.

Consolidated version of the Act of 20 September 1976, as last amended by Council Decision 2002/772/EC, Euratom of 25 June and 23 September 2002.

European Parliament resolution of 5 December 2002 on the draft Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

This working document, drawn up by the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market and dated 9 January 2003, outlines the procedure for the adoption of the Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

European Parliament decision of 3 June 2003 on the adoption of a Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

Following the European Parliament’s referral of its draft Statute for Members to the Commission, the latter gives its observations, in its Opinion of 3 June 2003, regarding, in particular, the legal problems raised by the provisions amending primary legislation as well as the impact on the Community budget.

European Parliament resolution of 4 June 2003 on the adoption of a Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

European Parliament resolution of 17 December 2003 on the Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

In this Declaration of June 2005, the Member States agree to revise the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities as soon as the European Parliament has adopted a Statute for its Members.

In this letter dated June 2005 sent to Josep Borrell, President of the European Parliament, the President of the Council sets out the elements which would allow the Council to give its agreement to the draft Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

On 22 June 2005, the European Parliament adopts, by a large majority, the report by Giuseppe Gargani on a single Statute for Members of the European Parliament.

The General Affairs Council of 18 July 2005 approves the draft decision of the European Parliament, adopted on 23 June 2005, establishing the new Statute for its Members.

Decision of the European Parliament of 28 September 2005 adopting the Statute for Members of the European Parliament. This Decision entered into force on 14 July 2009.

The Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007, amends the official mandate of Members of the European Parliament, changing them from ‘representatives of the peoples of the States’ into ‘representatives of the Union’s citizens’, and provides that citizens are directly represented at Union level in the European Parliament (Article 1, point 15 of the Treaty of Lisbon).