The alleged attempts to influence MEPs unveiled loopholes in Parliament’s internal rules, alongside other issues, says 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 14-point proposal to 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 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 allegations with immediate changes and demands for measures to close loopholes in existing transparency rules. In December 2022, Parliament adopted a resolution on the suspicions of corruption by Qatar and the broader need for more transparency in the EU institutions.

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