Brussels, 28/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Sunday Times, in its Sunday 27 March edition, reports that Pablo Zalba Bidegain (EPP, Spain) has, like three other MEPs, accepted bribes in exchange for slowing down legislation with amendments (see EUROPE 10342). Pablo Zalba Bidegain is alleged to have agreed to vote against a directive on consumer protection, in exchange for €100,000.
We recall that Ernst Strasser, Zoran Thaler and Adrian Severin were caught red-handed, having sold their influence to an undercover team of journalists from The Sunday Times posing as lobbyists. The three MEPs requested payment of between €12,000 and €25,000 for submitting amendments to legislation to promote the lobby's interests. Thaler and Strasser have since resigned from their posts as MEP. Severin has left his political group (S&D) and joined the Non-Attached Group.
Last Thursday, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek pounded out that “we (within the EP Bureau) are determined to practise zero tolerance of the kind of actions that led to the resignation of our colleagues”. He said that, as president, he is resolved to safeguard the assembly's integrity and that of all its members. He went on to add that the EP will “strengthen its code of conduct”. Around 60 MEPs have been approached by offers to use their influence and about 15 have seized the bait. (L.C./transl.jl)