13/01/2023 (Agence Europe) – The EPP group in the European Parliament welcomed, on Friday 13 January, the resignation of Maria Arena as Chair of the Sub-committee on Human Rights (DROI). Close to people involved in the alleged corruption scandal in the European Parliament (see EUROPE 13082/1), the Belgian Socialist had not declared, contrary to the Parliament’s internal rules, that she had carried out a mission to Qatar, the costs of which had been covered by the authorities of the country suspected, along with Morocco, of having corrupted MEPs and parliamentary staff. “It was necessary that this situation be clarified” so that the DROI subcommittee could work in a calmer climate, said Isabel Wiseler-Lima (EPP, Luxembourger) in a statement. (MB)