Meeting in plenary, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has unanimously adopted a radically revised code of conduct, which will apply with immediate effect.
This bold gesture comes on top of the creation of an external group of investigation into allegations of corruption and promotion of interests issued against certain current and past members of PACE. It was a necessary step, at a time when the Assembly has been “called into question as never before”, reads the report defended by British Conservative Ian Liddell-Grainger.
Given the risk of seeing its reputation tarnished irreversibly, PACE has therefore adopted new rules providing for the prompt launch of fair investigations into allegations of breaches of the ethical rules by its members - including when they are revealed by external sources - and tougher sanctions in the event of reprehensible conduct.
Members must now undertake not to give, request, promise or accept payment, compensation or rewards of any kind in the framework of their position and are required to declare their interests online at the start of each session.
Provisions specifically concerning rapporteurs and election observers are also in place to avoid any conflict of interests that may damage the pledge of neutrality and impartiality inherent to these duties.
Drawn up on the basis of recommendations by the anti-corruption body of the Council of Europe (GRECO) (see EUROPE 11813), this new framework also provides for a transparency register of lobbyists, strict rules on access and movements of third parties during meetings and sessions and measures aiming to ensure that former members involved in paid council activities do not enjoy specific benefits.
The assembly is not immune to private and public interests seeking to influence the independent, impartial and objective exercise of parliamentary work. Its work is monitored by the national authorities, political leaders, the media and civil society, states the resolution adopted on 10 October. It adds: these have a direct and manifest impact on the image and reputation of the countries concerned, with consequences at political and economic level.
The stakes, therefore, are high and the reworded code of conduct finally takes them on board. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)