Suspicions of bribery against members of the European Parliament and assistants are shaking the EU. According to the expert, the rules related to corruption must be tightened.
12.12. 19:10•Updated 12.12. 19:49
BRUSSELS Suspicions of bribery against members of the European Parliament and assistants are shaking the EU. Four people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption and money laundering in a case related to World Cup organizer Qatar.
Qatar is suspected of trying to buy itself influence in the European Parliament. According to the anti-corruption organization Transparency International, the case is very exceptional.
– This is the most significant scandal that the EU and the EU Parliament have seen in a decade. It will have very big effects, says a senior expert to Vitor Teixeira from the organization’s Brussels office.
According to Teixeira, it is worth noting that the former MEP and assistants as well as the sitting deputy speaker of the parliament are suspected in the case. According to him, it is important to find out if there is systematic activity behind it.
Stricter rules are needed
Despite its exceptional nature, the bribery scandal does not surprise Teixeira. According to him, it was only a matter of time before the abuses were revealed.
– This is a place to look in the mirror for those who have claimed that there are no problems.
According to Teixeira, it is obvious that the rules governing the activities of the EU Parliament are not strict enough. The different EU institutions should also have more uniform rules of the game, he points out.
– Institutions should use the opportunity to fix long-term problems that we as organizations have highlighted.
According to Transparency, abuses occurring in the parliament should be addressed with stricter sanctions. Teixeira emphasizes that the parliament should have an ethical institution that would have the opportunity to investigate abuses and address problems.
– Parliament must define what is acceptable and what is not. It’s about their public image. They have the power to address the problems, and they should do so immediately.
Lobbying is part of everyday life in Brussels
Teixeira emphasizes that Transparency’s goal is not to root out lobbying from Brussels. The organization also strives to shape attitudes itself, and to highlight problems related to corruption.
The key is that there are clear rules of the game for influencing opinion, to which both decision-makers and lobbyists commit.
The EU cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to abuses, Teixeira states.
– The European Parliament has an extremely large amount of power. They have the trust of the voters. Therefore, this level of corruption can have effects on the entire continent, says Teixeira.