"Today what has been revealed is only the tip of the iceberg", asserted the co-president of the Left group on franceinfo, even if "obviously all the MEPs in Parliament are not corrupt".
The institution has been shaken by the revelation of an alleged corruption scandal notably targeting Greek MEP Eva Kaili, suspected of having been paid by Qatar to defend the interests of the emirate which currently hosts the World Cup.
Ms. Kaili was stripped of her vice-presidency by Parliament and is the subject of a preliminary investigation by the Athens financial prosecutor's office for "corruption" and "money laundering" in cooperation with Belgian justice.
In detention, she claims her innocence.
Three other people, including his companion, are also targeted.
"There must be an investigation in the 27 Member States. The scale of this scandal, the effects that I have been able to see and have already denounced for a month clearly demonstrates that these are not a few isolated cases, we must make the day on the whole network", pleaded Manon Aubry.
Against a "sick European democracy", she urged again the establishment of an "independent ethical authority" to better control lobbying activities and better control the waiting periods "not always respected" concerning former European commissioners who would be tempted to "sell their address book".
"Today in the European Parliament there is no body that can control conflicts of interest. The transparency register in which we inform about meetings with lobbies, I do it but it is not not obligatory”, she regretted.
"It must be in place by the end of the mandate in 2024".
On Thursday, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced "extensive" reforms for 2023, speaking of "gaps" concerning "the activities of former members of the European Parliament" and "registrations on the transparency register".
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated her proposal for an "independent authority" that would "cover all institutions in a uniform manner".
© 2022 AFP