Debate: Recommendations for reform of the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Věra Jourová
Language: EN

I am very pleased that today, one year before the European Parliament elections, we are meeting to discuss the ways to address these vulnerabilities and to reform Parliament’s rules on ethics and anti-corruption. It is vital for the credibility of the EU that all our institutions follow the highest standards when it comes to integrity, transparency and accountability. Let me briefly mention a number of closely linked steps the Commission has already taken in the area of transparency, ethics and anti-corruption. In 2021, Parliament, the Council and the Commission reached a major milestone in fostering a common transparency culture with the adoption of the agreement on the mandatory transparency register. I think Katarina Barley remembers it very well – not easy, but after all, done. The transparency register aims to increase the transparency of interest representation activities carried out at Union level. It does cover activities of foreign influence when carried out by entities without diplomatic status and intermediaries that lobby the EU institutions on behalf of third countries. Interest representatives are expected to register and provide information on their activities, on whose behalf they are lobbying, and on their funding sources. Since 2021, intermediaries such as consultancies and law firms are required to declare on the register their clients, including any foreign governments or public authorities and the associated revenue. The Commission will look at further measures to increase transparency. At the same time, the Commission has already taken decisive action to respond to the risk of foreign interference, from new tools to counter the use of economic coercion by third countries to rules of screening foreign direct investments to the imposition of restrictive measures under the EU sanctions regime. But there is a need to step up EU action to shine a light on foreign interference as part of the arsenal to defend democracy. This is why the Commission is continuing its work on the defence of democracy package, with the aim of tackling foreign interference while building resilience from within. It is important that we find the right balance for this tool also in the light of intensifying geopolitical tensions. That is why, as announced in June in this House, work on a closer assessment of the impact of the package is under way. Another step we undertook to make our institutions more transparent and resilient towards undue influence is the proposal for the interinstitutional agreement on an ethics body. While keeping fully conscious of the autonomous role of each institution under the Treaties, this body would develop common ethical standards for all institutions to implement in their internal ethics rules for their members. I am one minute beyond time. Can I have one more minute? I don’t like not to keep to the time, but what can I do? I have so much to say. I will skip the text regarding the ethics body because I think now you know the proposal of the Commission well. I would like to return shortly to the fight against corruption. The Commission takes it very seriously. Only last week, the Commission adopted the annual rule of law report, with corruption again one of the four pillars of the exercise. In May, we presented the legislative proposal to update the criminal law approach to corruption in Member States. Also, of course, it refers to EU institutions. Currently, the definitions and penalties related to corruption differ too much. This makes cross-border investigations more difficult and creates loopholes. Our proposal on combating corruption would close the gaps so that all kinds of corruption are criminalised, including trading in influence, abuse of power and obstruction of justice. And of course, EU politicians and officials are covered by this proposal. The proposal aims to provide law enforcement, prosecution and judiciary with the tools they need to combat corruption, such as resources, investigative tools and a sufficiently long statute of limitations to bring proceedings to an end. It will also ensure that immunity or privileges from prosecution can be lifted by an effective and transparent process, in a reasonable period. At the same time, our package is aimed at the prevention of corruption, because prevention helps to create a culture of integrity in which corruption and impunity are not tolerated. It has wider benefits in promoting public trust and managing the conduct of public officials. Dear President, honourable Members, transparency and prevention of corruption are essential to the credibility of the EU, and I am very much looking forward to the debate which follows now.