On Wednesday 31 January, the members of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties adopted their position on the new European directive on the fight against corruption (see EUROPE 13174/4).
According to the draft report, which was adopted by 63 votes to 2 with 2 abstentions, the directive will make it possible to cover more categories of officials and to introduce tougher penalties, says a European Parliament press release.
MEPs amended the draft anti-corruption provisions to cover a wider range of people playing a leading role, including anyone entrusted with tasks of public interest or entrusted with a public service. MEPs want the EU’s top decision-makers - MEPs, Commissioners and the President of the European Council - to be added to the category of senior officials and made subject to stricter rules. Provisions have also been made for military officials, senior executives of public companies and officials of political parties represented in Parliament.
MEPs also proposed stricter penalties, particularly with regard to an offender’s ability to hold public office and exclusions from access to public funding.
The European Parliament also wants a European coordinator for the fight against corruption and an annual European report dedicated to the fight against corruption.
Link to the adopted text: https://aeur.eu/f/ant (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)