The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties has set out its vision for a European Anti-Corruption Strategy in a draft resolution adopted on Wednesday 15 July by a large majority (48 votes in favour, three against, 17 abstentions).
The MEPs highlight the importance of acting upstream to prevent corruption. They insist on risk mapping and training for those likely to face it. They want stricter and better harmonised standards to combat conflicts of interest, gifts in kind, trips paid for by third parties, asset declarations and revolving doors.
Parliamentarians’ paid side jobs should also be subject to greater transparency, they say in a press release.
The parliamentary committee advocates greater cooperation between the competent European entities (Europol, Eurojust, European Public Prosecutor's Office, OLAF, AMLA and the future European Customs Authority). These entities must be given adequate resources as well as robust, modernised mandates guaranteeing their independence so that they are able to combat corruption that is increasingly cross-border and uses modern technologies (crypto-assets, encrypted messaging services).
Moreover, the European strategy should also be monitored regularly through the use of indicators. According to the MEPs, corruption-related objectives should be included in EU programmes post-2027.
The draft resolution will be put to the vote at a forthcoming plenary session of the European Parliament. The Commission is expected to present its strategy before the end of 2026.
To see the compromise amendments to the draft resolution, all of which were adopted: https://aeur.eu/f/mwf (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)