On Wednesday 13 September, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (505 votes in favour, 93 against, 52 abstentions) the draft ‘Bischoff’ report amending Parliament’s Rules of Procedure in order to strengthen the rules on transparency and integrity in parliamentary work, in response to the ‘Qatargate’ scandal of alleged corruption of MEPs by third countries (see EUROPE 13248/5).
Parliament President Roberta Metsola said she was “proud” that MEPs had adopted “unprecedented decisions in record time to strengthen integrity, independence and accountability” within Parliament, via X (formerly Twitter).
Despite a vote requiring an absolute majority of MEPs on each amendment to the current rules of procedure, the text submitted by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) was adopted virtually unchanged (see EUROPE 13245/12). The extension to all MEPs of the transparency obligations relating to meetings with representatives of interest groups and third countries has been approved. The same applies to the obligation to provide the President of Parliament with a declaration of assets at the beginning and end of their term of office, which will remain confidential.
This latest advance was welcomed by Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA, French), who was behind the provision.
A third change made in the AFCO Committee to the initial draft report concerned Parliament’s internal advisory committee responsible for proactively monitoring compliance with the rules on transparency and integrity. At the plenary session, MEPs agreed to increase the number of members of this committee from five to eight, but refused to allow three members to be independent experts.
In the end, the EPP Group, which had voted against the draft ‘Bischoff’ report in the AFCO Committee, supported the report in plenary. The rapporteur, Gabriele Bischoff (S&D, German), nevertheless criticised the attitude of the Christian Democrat family. “Despite an attempt by the right-wing alliance to water down the changes, we have managed to bring this process to a successful conclusion thanks to a progressive majority led by the Socialists and Democrats”, she said in a statement.
At this stage, only MEPs from the S&D Group have been questioned as part of the Belgian judicial investigation into the ‘Qatargate’ scandal.
It should be noted that all the amendments tabled by the political groups in view of the plenary vote were rejected.
The main changes to Parliament’s rules of procedure include new provisions that will shed light on the nature and origin of any remunerated activity carried out in parallel with parliamentary activity, where it exceeds €5,000 gross per year. MEPs are also broadening the notion of conflict of interest that an MEP could face. A vice-president of Parliament, a quaestor, a (vice-)chairman of a parliamentary committee, a (shadow) rapporteur and a member of a parliamentary delegation will have to disclose a possible conflict of interest linked to their position.
However, following the vote, Transparency International expressed its disappointment. “Important revisions, such as the need for dissuasive sanctions and genuine independent scrutiny of MEPs’ conduct, have not been addressed. Gainful employment by MEPs with organisations listed in the EU lobby register will continue to be authorised”, the organisation lamented in a press release.
See the ‘Bischoff’ report: https://aeur.eu/f/8ji (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)