European Parliament calls for strong and immediate reforms in the face of corruption suspicions

MEPs call for further reforms based on those announced by the Conference of Presidents and the swift establishment of an independent ethics body.

On Thursday, Parliament adopted two resolutions on transparency and integrity in EU decision-making.

Firm and immediate reforms are needed

Following up on the measures called for by the Parliament in December 2022, and praising recent decisions by the President and several group leaders as a necessary first step, MEPs reiterated that they will have “zero tolerance for any form of corruption”. “They insisted that the EP must respond “with clear solidarity and unwavering determination”. They describe the scope of the work in detail, in particular:

• better enforcement of the Code of Conduct for MEPs, including financial sanctions in case of infringement, and the introduction of more sanctionable conduct, and prohibiting Members from paid side activities that could create a conflict of interest for them;
• subjecting travel paid for by third countries to a prior approval process and additional scrutiny of parliamentary assistants and staff working in sensitive policy areas, in particular in foreign affairs, security and defence;
• reform of the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members to fill the gap of the new independent ethics body until it is operational;
  declarations of assets by Members at the beginning and end of each mandate;
• adequate resources for the Transparency Register and an obligation for MEPs, assistants and staff to declare working meetings with diplomats from third countries, when they have “clear and immediate influence on the evolution of specific dossiers” in the EP, except if this may put their interlocutors at risk or be against the public interest;
• align internal rules with the directive on whistleblower protection;
• the measures taken with regard to the Qatari representatives should be extended to the Moroccan representatives.

Foreign Information Manipulation Interference (FIMI) and Cybersecurity – Threat Landscape

Tighter control of NGO funding

Parliament notes that NGOs have allegedly been used as vectors of foreign interference, and urges a review of existing regulations to enhance transparency on their governance, budget, foreign influence and persons of significant control. It underlines that NGOs receiving money from parties who do not have to sign up to the Transparency Register (e.g. third countries) also need to disclose the sources of their funding, and requests that if this information is not disclosed, they should not receive EU public money. It also calls for a comprehensive financial pre-screening before an NGO is listed on the EU transparency register, for any contractual agreements with the Commission to be published, and a clear definition of which NGOs are allowed to register and are eligible to receive EU funding.  Nevertheless, it also deplores the use of the corruption scandal “to launch a misguided smearing campaign” against NGOs and spread misinformation on the lack of transparency of their funding, reiterating its unwavering support to civil society organisations that speak up for human rights and the environment in full respect of the rules.

MEPs also want the ING2 Committee and other responsible bodies to revise Parliament’s ethics rules before the summer.

The resolution was adopted with 401 votes for, three against, and 133 abstentions.

No more delays for the independent ethics body

Parliament reiterates its call for an independent ethics body for the EU institutions, based on MEPs’ proposals of September 2021, to restore citizens’ trust. The Commission’s proposal should be submitted by March, and negotiations should conclude by the summer break, MEPs say. This body should clearly distinguish between criminal actions, breaches of institutional rules, and unethical behaviour.  It would play a key role in protecting whistleblowers within the EU institutions, while working in a complementary manner with other EU bodies such as the anti-fraud office (OLAF), the Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO), the Ombudsman and the European Court of Auditors. 

The resolution was adopted with 388 votes for, 72 against, and 76 abstentions.

Background

During her speech in plenary on 14 February 2023, Vice-President Jourová announced that the Commission will table a proposal for an independent ethics body in the next weeks, aiming to cover all institutions and bodies mentioned in Article 13 of the Treaty on the EU.

Source: European Parliament