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.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

REINTKE, Terry (Greens/EFA, DE)

fight against organised crime, corruption and money laundering (T)

GLUCKSMANN, Raphaël (S&D, FR)

LOISEAU, Nathalie (Renew, FR)

JOHANSSON, Ylva (SE, EC)

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

Title: 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 (I-236067)

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commission for Home Affairs, So I welcome the measures announced last week to increase integrity, independence and accountability in the Parliament. That's a good start, but we must do more. Nothing but the highest standards will do for all institutions. That's why it's critical to have uniform strong rules in place, guarded by a joint ethics body for all to answer to. Vice-President Jourova is in constant contact with Parliament and Council, and the Commission is ready to put forward a proposal. We can build on the instant, instant Industry Institutional Agreement on the Transparency Register signed two years ago, a major milestone in fostering a common transparency culture.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commission for Home Affairs, As politicians are leaders, we must always be ready to listen. We must always listen to words, but never, ever to favours gifts, bribes. That is totally unacceptable. That's why we protect whistleblowers who report foul play. They are essential for the functioning of our democracy. We protect them with our own internal rules and with our EU laws. The Directive on the Whistleblowers Protection and the EU Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF investigates allegations of wrongdoing. We will be debating one such case tomorrow triggered by a whistleblower.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commission for Home Affairs, Soon I will propose a new law to criminalise all forms of corruption with unified definitions of corruption and harmonised penalties across the European Union. We are shaping the proposal as we speak, and I promise you we will be as ambitious as we can, as tough as we possibly can, and give police and courts the tools they need to eradicate corruption.

SOUNDBITE (English), Vladimir BILCIK (EPP, SK), I have never witnessed a situation where the institution itself is willing so openly and so strongly to address its own problems. This is the time when we must be straight, clear and absolutely honest. We do need direct naming and shaming. We do need true political responsibility. We do need full openness towards our citizens and to be credible on fundamentals. We do need to talk about the hypocrisy of some of our colleagues.

SOUNDBITE (French), Raphael GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), We have this committee on foreign interference and the problem of the time has come to act. The transparency register has to become mandatory. We need a European ethics body with substantial powers. And if anyone pinpoints something that's not okay, then we need a whistleblower's rules and statute.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), We must act today quickly and strongly. Let's not forget what we already know. And let's not tar everything with the same brush. We must combat corruption wherever it comes from. To do that, we will look at the proposals on the table. One is missing and it is a vital one. The European Union needs an independent ethics body. Inspired by good practice, such as the high authority on transparency in public life in France.

SOUNDBITE (English), Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), First of all, and I think that this is really important. We owe it to the citizens to bring our deliberations in this House to light. And that is why we will need a special committee with a very clear mandate to make recommendations of what is necessary to fight against corruption and for integrity and transparency in this House. Secondly, this institution needs better whistleblower protection because people who bring misconduct and wrongdoing to light need to be protected and not punished.

SOUNDBITE (English), Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), Thirdly, we need a stronger and mandatory transparency register. This is also part of the proposal, but I believe that we have to bring transparency by including also third country representatives and by enforcing the rules that we already have on transparency better. We need to make the register mandatory while at the same time ensuring that we do not put people at risk like, for example, human rights defenders by not granting reasoned and limited exceptions.

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

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