“Qatargate” imposes itself on the plenary of the European Parliament
General view of the European Parliament in plenary session in Strasbourg, France, December 13, 2022. © YVES HERMAN / REUTERS
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
A month after the revelations about the "Qatargate" corruption scandal in the European Parliament, MEPs are meeting in plenary session from 16 to 19 January.
In particular, it is a question of examining the lifting of the immunity of the two MEPs implicated.
Advertising
Read more
“
Officials will find Parliament on the side of the law.
“From the beginning of January, President Roberta Metsola said: her institution will do everything to help the investigators.
And it starts in Strasbourg this Monday since the President of the European Parliament must announce, during the plenary session, the opening of the
procedure to lift the immunity of the two deputies
involved in Qatargate, the Italian Andréa Cozzolino and the Belgian Marc Taraballa, both social democrats.
The Legal Affairs Committee will then study the file.
It is only next month, during the February plenary session, that MEPs will vote on the issue of lifting the immunity of the two parliamentarians.
But in Strasbourg, there is no doubt: not one group will oppose it.
Sylvie Guillaume, French PS MEP from the same parliamentary group (S&D) as the two implicated, thinks that this lifting will shed more light on this affair.
"
It is necessary in a way, since it allows these two deputies to defend themselves
," she argues.
The elected member of the National Rally (RN) Jean-Lin Lacapelle calls to go even further, with the establishment of a parliamentary commission.
A request which has not yet been accepted by the European Parliament.
“
We asked for an investigation, a parliamentary commission
[...]
We want to know today who has been corrupted, at what level, and we will try to ensure that things go very quickly.
It is the reputation and image of the European Parliament that is in question
, ”said the RN MEP.
Towards new rules of ethics
In the coming days, everyone should rather focus on their tracks to strengthen the ethical rules of MEPs.
For MEP Sylvie Guillaume, the existing rules must be made compulsory and generalized to be more effective.
“
When, for example, you are rapporteur for a text, you have to provide what is called a legislative imprint, that is to say, to show the appointments that we have to build our point of view
, explains the elected socialist.
It is necessary for example that this kind of elements is generalized.
»
On Thursday 12 January, the President of the European Parliament presented to the presidents of the political groups her plan to fight against conflicts of interest and interference from third countries.
One of the priorities of this fourteen-point plan is to ban MEPs from lobbying activities
at the end of their mandate
.
► Also to listen: Carrefour de l'Europe - Will the shock wave of Qatargate force the European Parliament to improve its practices?
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
European Union
Corruption