Head of European Parliament is ready for transparency after accusations
2023.01.11 09:12
Head of European Parliament is ready for transparency after accusations
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – In an effort to restore trust following a criminal corruption scandal, the head of the European Parliament will present on Thursday a 14-point plan to tighten rules for lawmakers regarding financial declarations and contacts with lobbyists within weeks.
According to a parliamentary source, Parliament president Roberta Metsola will seek the support of political group leaders on Thursday. All meetings with interest groups would have to be reported under the plan, there would be a transition period during which former lawmakers couldn’t lobby, and gifts would be more transparent.
Four individuals have been charged by Belgian authorities, including Greek lawmaker Eva Kaili and former Italian parliamentarian Pier Antonio Panzeri, for allegedly receiving money and gifts from Qatar to influence decision-making.
Qatar and Kaili, through her attorney, have both denied any wrongdoing. The attorney for Panzeri has declined to comment.
Additionally, a procedure to remove two additional members’ immunity has been initiated by the parliament.
Meetings with lobbyists or campaign groups are only permitted to be published by committee chairs and those in charge of particular legislation or resolutions under the current rules. This obligation would apply to all lawmakers and their staff under Metsola’s plan.
In their financial declarations, lawmakers would need to provide more specific information. As an illustration, they couldn’t just list “consultancy” as the outside income source.
Sanctions would be more readily apparent for rule violations. The parliamentary source stated that in order to make it easier for voters to hold legislators more accountable, details of sanctions and declarations would be presented more clearly on the website of the assembly.
New regulations, according to Metsola, who has pledged to lead reform, will not stop people from being enticed by cash bags.
Critics, on the other hand, claim that the absence of sanctions and inadequate reporting on contacts have created an atmosphere in which rule-breaking could go unnoticed or unpunished.
The establishment of an independent ethics body that would cover all EU institutions is one reform that will take longer to implement. A proposal on such a body is planned by the European Commission, but when it will be presented is unknown.
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