Despite the final opposition of the EPP group, on Thursday 7 September the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) adopted most of the reform of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, as suggested in the draft report by Gabriele Bischoff (S&D, German) (see EUROPE 13220/28). With the support of the Renew Europe group, the left-wing groups won their case on a number of amendments, in particular the obligation for MEPs to make a declaration of assets.
Initiated in response to the ‘Qatargate’ scandal of alleged corruption of MEPs by third countries, this reform will strengthen the transparency obligations of parliamentary work. Thus, an MEP and his assistants, when acting on his behalf, will have to publish online all meetings held with representatives of interest groups entered in the European transparency register and with representatives of third countries, except in the case of overriding reasons such as the security or freedom of an individual.
Adopting an amendment from the S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left groups, the AFCO Committee struck out the nuance that limited this obligation to parliamentary activities in which a Member plays an ‘active role’.
Heritage. Another new feature included in the draft report is an amendment by the Greens/EFA Group on the declaration of assets that elected MEPs would be required to make at the beginning and end of their term of office. This declaration, addressed to the President of the European Parliament, would be accessible only to the competent authorities, in accordance with national law.
Leading on this issue, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA, French) expressed surprise at the support given by the Renew Europe group, while the representative of the centre-right group, Gilles Boyer (France), welcomed the “decisive role” played by his political family in this dossier.
The French ecologist predicted an attempt by the Right to scupper the amendment on the declaration of assets during the plenary session vote on Wednesday 13 September (debate on Monday 11 September). “The EPP voted against the report. It was very unhappy with the amendment to the declaration of assets”, she told EUROPE.
An absolute majority of MPs will be required in plenary to ratify this measure.
In addition, political pressure is very strong insofar as the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who is very much involved, would not look kindly on the group from which she comes weakening the report, or even ultimately rejecting it in plenary.
The declaration of assets will supplement the declaration of financial interests that MEPs must provide and update during their term of office. New provisions will make it possible to specify any remunerated activity carried out in parallel with parliamentary activity, where it exceeds €5,000 gross per year. Other provisions cover gifts received in the course of parliamentary activity, which may not exceed €150, as well as invitations to take part in events organised by third parties.
MEPs have also broadened the notion of conflict of interest that an MEP could face, by including his or her family and “emotional life”. A vice-president of the European Parliament, a quaestor, a (vice-)chairman of a parliamentary committee, a (shadow) rapporteur and a member of a parliamentary delegation will have to declare the existence of a conflict of interest linked to their position. Specific provisions have been introduced allowing a (shadow) rapporteur to remain in office, subject to certain conditions.
As far as penalties for breaches of the future rules are concerned, the line taken in the draft ‘Bischoff’ report has prevailed. The amount of the financial penalty (60 days’ flat-rate pay) and/or the duration of the temporary suspension (60 days) from carrying out parliamentary activities, excluding voting in plenary, which may be imposed by the President of the European Parliament on a Member, will be doubled.
Advisory Committee. In the committee vote, MEPs amended the composition of the internal advisory committee responsible for proactively monitoring compliance with the rules on transparency and ethics and advising the European Parliament President in the event of infringements.
In addition to the five current MEPs, three external experts appointed by the European Parliament President will sit on this committee. But they will not have the right to vote. The Greens/EFA group will try to give this competence to the experts during the vote in plenary session.
“After today’s vote, it is clear to everyone who is in favour of an ambitious reform and who is trying to water down the rules. (...) The EPP group has not hesitated to form an alliance with right-wing and far-right forces in this House in order to play down the changes to the current rules”, Ms Bischoff condemned in a press release.
With a view to the vote in plenary, Ms Delbos-Corfield also wants to introduce a rendez-vous clause so that the European Parliament can take stock of this reform during the next legislature and, if necessary, demonstrate greater ambition. She was surprised not to be followed by the S&D group on this point. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)