European Union: an ethical control body deemed insufficient by Parliament

One year before the European elections and six months after the Qatargate corruption scandal, what control for the ethics of the European institutions? And by whom? MEPs meeting in Strasbourg reacted to a recent proposal by the European Commission for an "inter-institutional ethics committee" described as an empty shell by the centrist Renew group.

A session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (Illustration image). © Frederick Florin / AFP

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With our special envoy in Strasbourg, Juliette Gheerbrant

Commissioner Vera Jourova, who came to defend her text, faced an almost continuous salvo of criticism from all political sides. Masquerade, lack of seriousness... For a majority of MEPs, the ethical control body is not up to the challenge.

This body would consist mainly of representatives of the institutions with one third of independent experts. It should establish rules of good conduct common to all actors, from Parliament to the European Investment Bank and the Council, and should define, for example, what constitutes a conflict of interest.

« No one is ever punished »

This is progress, certainly, but we are far from it, says Daniel Freund, a German Green MEP and author of several texts on the subject. "That's not the problem. The problem is simply that here in Parliament there have been 26 cases of breach of the rules in the last ten years, and not a single sanction. As in the Commission, no one is ever sanctioned if the rules are not respected. So, for that, we have to stop with the self-control of the institutions, we need independent control," he said.

One year before the European elections, the Renew group, to which the Renaissance MEPs belong, will also say no to this basis for negotiation. For the Macronist MP, Valérie Hayet, the political risk is major. "We need to rebuild a bond of trust with citizens. We France have a High Authority for Transparency in Public Life. It is a tool that is independent and works. I think it's a model that we have to build on," he explains.

The next step is the vote on a resolution by MPs in July. To get a result before the election, the executive and Parliament will have to pick up the tempo.

► Read also: After the "Qatargate", Brussels presents an "inter-institutional ethics committee"

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