Brussels, 01/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - There is consensus at the level of the presidents of political groups within the European Parliament on the “general lines” of seven proposals made by Jerzy Buzek to strengthen rules for lobbyists and the code of conduct for MEPs, EP sources affirmed on Friday 1st April. These proposals will be discussed and developed as of next week by the working group that the Conference of Speakers has decided to set up (EUROPE 10349). Buzek's proposals, which were made available to EUROPE, are as follows:
1) Creation of a mandatory register of lobbyists throughout the EU institutions. To date, a voluntary register has existed only at the EP and Commission but, Buzek said, “I believe that we should now propose to the Commission that it come forward with legislation which would establish a mandatory register for all institutions”.
2) The EP should make inclusion on the mandatory register take effect immediately, without waiting for the legislative process concerning the other institutions to be completed. At Buzek's request, the measure is already in place. At every visit, EP visitors must declare who they are to see and what meeting they plan to attend.
3) Transparency must be strengthened on MEPs' possible conflicts of interest. “Any actual or potential conflict of interest must be declared. Members who advocate any cause or interest in which they have a direct financial interest must make this fact known clearly and unequivocally in writing”, Buzek states, adding: that this is also true for “second jobs”. MEPs should be under an obligation to update their declarations of interest not once a year but every time the situation changes.
4) The code of conduct of MEPs must be strengthened, following the example set by the code of conduct for European commissioners and the codes of conduct existing in national parliaments.
5) EP rapporteurs working on legislative texts must be under an obligation to make a list of all individuals, pressure groups or organisations that have been consulted or from which they have received advice during the preparation of their report (“legislative footprint”).
6) The EP Rules of Procedure must stipulate that MEPs cannot be guilty of “dishonourable behaviour” that “brings the House into disrepute”.
7) “Tougher” sanctions must be provided in the event of failure to abide by these rules. (H.B./transl.jl)