On Tuesday 8 November, the European Parliament constitutional affairs committee adopted the report by Richard Corbett (S&D, UK) on the general revision of the Parliament’s rules of procedure (see EUROPE 11639).
The Greens/EFA Group says in a press release that it managed to secure some improvements on integrity and transparency but acknowledges that it was not able to achieve reforms in a number of areas. Thus:
- the committee decided to strengthen the supervisory powers of the European Parliament to avoid potential conflicts of interest within the European Commission during the term of office of European commissioners. The revision allows the Parliament properly to assess commissioners’ declarations of financial interests when they take up their posts and during their terms of office. Where there is any doubt over a candidate, the appointment procedure will be suspended by the Parliament.
- during the hearings of some committees of inquiry, some companies called before the European Parliament declined to appear and later sought bilateral meetings with MEPs. Strengthening the rules of procedure will allow access badges to the Parliament to be withdrawn from companies which refuse to appear before a committee of inquiry (unless, of course, the refusal can be properly justified).
- MEPs must declare any money earned for extra-Parliamentary activities but hitherto anyone earning more than €10,000 per month has not been required to state how much more (than €10,000 he/she was making). The new rules will improve transparency with regard to the highest earners. The rules approved will also make it easier to set up committees of inquiry.
The Greens/EFA Group regretted that its amendments banning professional activities during MEPs’ terms of office, introducing rules on revolving doors and reforming the operation and mandate of the ethics advisory committee whose job it is to ensure compliance with the code of conduct. The plenary session vote is likely to take place in December. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)