Brussels, 10/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has adopted a written declaration calling on the EU to do more to tackle corruption, including putting in place a monitoring mechanism. “I call upon the Commission and the Council to establish a strong and solid anti-corruption monitoring mechanism in the EU and I appeal to the member states to show political will and support such an EU mechanism,” Monica Macovei (EPP, Romania) said on 6 May. The declaration, which was adopted by more than half of MEPs, was drafted by five members from various political groups: Macovei, Simon Busuttil (EPP, Malta), Luigi de Magistris (ALDE, Italy), Ana Gomes (S&D, Portugal) and (S&D, Portugal) and Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, Belgium). NGOs Transparency International and FLARE (Freedom, Legality And Rights in Europe) backed the declaration with their own signature-gathering campaigns. The declaration encourages the European institutions to adopt a comprehensive policy to tackle corruption and put in place a definite mechanism to monitor the situation in member states regularly. MEPs call on the Commission to provide the means necessary to allow the mechanism to work properly and to ensure that its conclusions and findings are acted upon effectively. They also call on the Commission and other European agencies concerned to take the necessary steps and allocate sufficient resources to make sure that Community funds are not open to corruption and to adopt deterrents to corruption and fraud. The 2009 Eurobarometer on European attitudes to corruption revealed that 78% of European citizens felt that corruption was a major problem in their member state. (B.C./transl.rt)