'Shadow MEP' savours her moment

By Shirin Wheeler
BBC Europe correspondent

One hundred and sixty-two national parliamentarians from the 10 countries expected to join the European Union next year joined the ranks of members of the European Parliament in Brussels this week.

Pusz was Poland's youngest ever MP at 25

The shadow MEPs or "observers" from Central and Eastern Europe will be taking part in parliamentary activities over the next year - sitting and debating in committee but without the right to vote.

Resplendent in her silk suit, immaculate manicure and glossy hair, Sylwia Pusz is the new face of Polish socialism.

The 32-year-old MP from Poznan has been getting equipped for life in Euroland.

She arrived at the European Parliament this week as part of the biggest delegation from Poland.

Amid the flurry of photographers, computer experts and parliament officials tasked with making the visitors at home, Sylwia told me: "This is a crucial moment and I think a historical moment because we are in the European Parliament for the first time."

Pragmatic head

But Ms Pusz already broke records seven years ago - by becoming the youngest MP to be elected in her own country, at the age of 25.

The work of MEPs isn't well known and the European Parliament doesn't produce the kind of laws that we understand

Sylwia Pusz
Polish socialist MP

Armed with a hefty copy of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, clutching a new briefcase courtesy of the EU, she has a pragmatic head on her young shoulders.

She is even undaunted by the maze of corridors and the challenge of finding her new offices. She explains how she sees her role as an observer over the next 12 months.

"In Poland there's a feeling the European Parliament is an institution which is too far away from people. I think this is the great role of the observers and future MEPs to bring it closer and to explain what its role is."

"The work of MEPs isn't well known and the European Parliament doesn't produce the kind of laws that we understand - so there's an image that MEPs sit and do things that we don't need in our normal life.

"If we don't use this year to explain this all to people - that we need to adapt to this legislation and that we already have done so - then there could be a very low turnout at the European Parliament."

'Huge choice'

Poland's voters still need to approve EU membership before Polish candidates can be sure of a seat here. But provided they do, would Sylwia want a more permanent seat in the chamber as an elected MEP? She is still pondering her options.

As MPs every day we are in touch, as MEPs that's more difficult - once lost, it could be hard to regain

Sylwia Pusz

"It's a huge choice," she says. "I've been speaking to the MEPs here and it's clear they are often far from their countries, and from their families.

"Many of us may also be afraid that we won't be able to get back into national politics.

"Then there's the contact with our own electorate. As MPs every day we are in touch. As MEPs that's more difficult. Once lost, it could be hard to regain.

"But it's a challenge, a completely new experience, to be one of the 54 from Poland - to be one of the first, for the first time in our history. I think it's very tempting."

Some would say just as tempting is the salary. At the moment MEPs are paid the same as their colleagues in national parliaments so the wage varies from country to country.

'Tough explaining'

But it is expected that a new proposed common salary of 8,000 euros a month could be approved in time for the European Parliamentary elections next year.

EU institutions are finally opening their doors

That would mean that if Sylwia were elected she would be taking home a wage twice as much as her prime minister.

That could make the job of selling the EU to Polish voters even harder, admits Sylwia.

"It would be very tough to explain the reason why we were coming here," she says.

"I think our media would attack candidates as going for the money even though that's not true. But it will cause many discussions and problems. But for now we need to concentrate on our bigger role and what we can do for Poland here at the parliament."

After years of painful negotiations, the EU institutions are finally opening their doors to the citizens of Central and Eastern Europe and their representatives.

The arrival of 162 of them at the European Parliament this week has brought home that enlargement is already changing the way that Europe works.