Corruption is a major challenge for the European Union (EU), with all its Member States affected by the problem to some extent. The EU has gradually adopted laws addressing a range of corruption-related issues. However, the current legal framework remains patchy, the lack of minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the area of corruption being one important missing element. Recently, corruption-related issues have been addressed almost exclusively within the EU rule of law framework, a development criticised by various stakeholders, including the European Parliament.

EPRS Policy Podcast: Combating corruption in the European Union

The alleged attempts to influence MEPs unveiled loopholes in Parliament’s internal rules, alongside other issues, says&nbsp;Special Committee on Foreign Interference. Interference attempts are a “widespread phenomenon that must be countered as vigorously as possible”, warn MEPs, expressing their “deep shock and condemnation of the allegations of corruption, money laundering and participation in a criminal organisation” by three MEPs, one former MEP and one parliamentary assistant.

The committee has identified “numerous loopholes in Parliament’s integrity and transparency rules” and calls for President Metsola’s&nbsp;14-point proposal to&nbsp;reform Parliament’s rules to be put into concrete actions as soon as possible.

MEPs demand also that compliance with the six-month cooling-off period for former MEPs should be monitored by the new&nbsp;EU ethics body. Parliament should introduce a monitoring system and rules for revoking access for former MEPs who lobby on behalf of high-risk countries beyond the cooling-off period.

Parliament has also reacted to corruption&nbsp;allegations &nbsp;with immediate changes and demands for measures to close loopholes in existing transparency rules. In&nbsp;&nbsp;December 2022,&nbsp;Parliament&nbsp;adopted a resolution on the suspicions of corruption by Qatar and the broader need for more transparency in the EU institutions.

Fight against corruption

The impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption is debated with Commission and Council. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations. Prime Minister Robert Fico wants the draft law to be adopted under the urgency procedure. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová has already said she would veto the law. Critics have warned that dismantling the special prosecutor’s office could have an impact on the ongoing investigation into the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in 2018.

Debate - Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law

EP Plenary session - Topical debate - Allegations of corruption and misuse of EU funds in Spain during the pandemic

Meet with the 2021 Sakharov Prize laureate, Alexei Navalny’s representative and member of his Anti-Corruption Foundation Leonid Volkov

Борба с корупцията (разискване)

Anti-corruption (debate)

Ценностите на ЕС и разпространението на корупцията и престъпността чрез т.нар. „златни визи“ (продължение на разискването)

EU values and the proliferation of corruption and crime through Golden Visas (continuation of debate)

Ценностите на ЕС и разпространението на корупцията и престъпността чрез т.нар. „златни визи“

EU values and the proliferation of corruption and crime through Golden Visas

Корупцията и правата на човека в трети държави (кратко представяне)

Corruption and human rights in third countries (short presentation)

Борба срещу корупцията и действия, произтичащи от резолюцията на специалната комисия по организираната престъпност, корупцията и изпирането на пари (разискване)

Fight against corruption and follow-up of the CRIM resolution (debate)

Неотдавнашни разкрития във връзка със случаи на корупция на високо равнище във ФИФА (разискване)

Recent revelations of high-level corruption cases in FIFA (debate)

Европейски мерки за борба срещу организираната престъпност и корупцията (разискване)

European measures to fight against organised crime and corruption (debate)

Организираната престъпност, корупцията и изпирането на пари (разискване)

Organised crime, corruption, and money laundering (debate)

Предприсъединителни фондове на ЕС: съдебните системи и борбата срещу корупцията (кратко представяне)

EU pre-accession funds: judicial systems and the fight against corruption (short presentation)

Корупцията в публичния и частния сектор: отражението върху правата на човека в трети държави (кратко представяне)

Corruption in the public and private sectors: the impact on human rights in third countries (short presentation)

Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering

CRIM

Organised crime, corruption and money laundering (debate)

Special committee on organised crime, corruption and money laundering

EP Plenary session - Recommendations for reform of the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption

ING2 Committee - Vote on the recommendations for reform of the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption

CONT Committee - Exchange of views with the parliamentary committees on budget and on anti-corruption policies of the Ukrainian Parliament Verkhovna Rada

EP Plenary session - Update of the anti-corruption legislative framework

DROI Workshop on Anti-Corruption Court

EP Plenary session - EU funding allocated to NGOs incriminated in the recent corruption revelations and the protection of EU financial interests

ING2 AFET SEDE DARP DMAG joint extraordinary meeting - Hearing on ' Recent Cases of Foreign Interference in the European Parliament - Allegations of Corruption '

EP Plenary session - New development in allegations of corruption and foreign interference, including those related to Morocco, and the need to increase transparency, integrity and accountability in the European institutions

EP Plenary session - Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Yulia NAVALNAYA and Leonid VOLKOV, Alexei NAVALNY's Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Foundation

Book presentation - Corruption and Money Laundering as Crimes Against democraty

EP Plenary session - Corruption and human rights

EP Plenary Session - Short presentation : Avoiding corruption, irregular spending and misuse of EU and national funds in case of emergency funds and crisis related spending areas

Meeting of the Anti-Corruption Intergroup

EP Plenary session - Conflict of interest and corruption affecting the protection of EU's financial interests in Member States

LIBE public hearing on ' Towards a common EU Strategy to fight corruption and organised crime - strengthening instruments and enhancing cooperation between relevant actors '

Plenary session - Situation of rule of law and fight against corruption in the EU, specifically in Malta and Slovakia

MEPs debate the impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations. Closing statement Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, and Commissioner for Competition (ad interim) and Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union.

Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law: Closing statement Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU

MEPs debate the impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations.

Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law: MEPs debate

MEPs debate the impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations.Opening statement by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, and Commissioner for Competition (ad interim). This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law: opening statement by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

MEPs debate and vote on the reforms proposed by the Special Committee on Foreign Interference (ING2) calling for more effective monitoring and surveillance systems to detect foreign interference in Parliament’s activity as well as for more transparency, integrity and accountability. The report warns that attempts to interfere with democracy are a “widespread phenomenon that must be countered as vigorously as possible” and calls for President Metsola’s 14-point proposal to reform Parliament’s rules to be put into concrete action as soon as possible as it constitutes an important first step in the internal reform process. Extracts from the debate (12/07), the vote and statements by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK) and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR) co-rapporteurs.

Recommendations for reform of the EP’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption: extracts from the debate (12/07) and the vote, statements by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK) and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), co-rapporteur

MEPs discuss proposals to improve Parliament’s transparency, integrity and accountability rules. The draft report by Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference, Transparency and Accountability identifies medium- to longer-term measures to be taken and calls for them to be implemented as soon as possible as it constitutes an important first step in the internal reform process. Second part of the debate.

Recommendations for reform of the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs discuss proposals to improve Parliament’s transparency, integrity and accountability rules. The draft report by Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference, Transparency and Accountability identifies medium- to longer-term measures to be taken and calls for them to be implemented as soon as possible as it constitutes an important first step in the internal reform process. First part of the debate.

Recommendations for reform of the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate the newly proposal which aims to improve existing anti-corruption frameworks, proactively tackle corruption at the policy-making level, support EU countries in their efforts and leverage the annual rule of law report. Closing statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.

Update of the anti-corruption legislative framework: closing statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

MEPs debate the newly proposal which aims to improve existing anti-corruption frameworks, proactively tackle corruption at the policy-making level, support EU countries in their efforts and leverage the annual rule of law report. MEPs debate.

Update of the anti-corruption legislative framework: MEPs debate

MEPs debate the newly proposal which aims to improve existing anti-corruption frameworks, proactively tackle corruption at the policy-making level, support EU countries in their efforts and leverage the annual rule of law report. Opening statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Update of the anti-corruption legislative framework: opening statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

MEPs debate on EU funding allocated to NGOs incriminated in the recent corruption revelations and the protection of EU financial interests.

EU funding allocated to NGOs incriminated in the recent corruption revelations and the protection of EU financial interests: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on EU funding allocated to NGOs incriminated in the recent corruption revelations and the protection of EU financial interests. Opening statement by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration.

EU funding allocated to NGOs incriminated in the recent corruption revelations and the protection of EU financial interests: opening statement by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration

MEPs debate on the new development in allegations of corruption and foreign interference and the need to increase transparency, integrity and accountability in the EU institutions. Extracts from the debate.

New development in allegations of corruption and foreign interference and the need to increase transparency, integrity and accountability in the EU institutions: extracts from the debate

MEPs vote on the following topics: Chinese government crackdown on the peaceful protests across the People's Republic of China - motions for resolutions; Military Junta crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in Chad - motions for resolutions; The case of human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja in Bahrain - motions for resolutions; Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions; 90 years after Holodomor: Recognising the mass killing through starvation as genocide - motions for resolutions; Upscaling the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework: a resilient EU budget fit for new challenges - Jan OLBRYCHT (EPP, PL) and Margarida MARQUES (S&D, PT); Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2021 - Loránt VINCZE (EPP, RO).

Voting session, including the suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions

MEPs debate with the Commission suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions, after the investigation initiated by the Belgian prosecutor which involves some members, staff and former members of the European Parliament. Extracts from the debate.

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions: extracts from the debate

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions. Closing statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions: closing statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions. Second part of MEPs debate.

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions: MEPs debate (part 2)

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions. First part of MEPs debate.

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions: MEPs debate (part 1)

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions. One round Political group leaders.

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions: one round Political group leaders

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Debate - Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law