EU Ethics Body Proposal Faces Setback as Parliament Rejects Agreement
The European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee votes against the establishment of a new independent ethics body amidst rising opposition from right-wing factions.
Brussels – The establishment of an independent European ethics body, proposed in response to concerns raised by the Qatargate corruption scandal, is facing significant challenges as the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) voted against the implementation of an agreement intended to set common ethical standards across EU institutions on May 14, 2024. The vote concluded with 13 in favor and 17 against the proposal, primarily influenced by the opposition from the European People’s Party (EPP) alongside right-wing and far-right groups.
The initiative aimed at creating this ethics body followed a proposal from the European Commission in June 2023, amidst allegations of corruption involving several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and their assistants in relation to Qatar and Morocco.
Initially, the proposal included several key powers, such as investigatory and sanctioning abilities; however, these were stripped away throughout the negotiation process.
The body was intended to foster ethical conduct among MEPs and provide a structured mechanism for coordination and sharing of ethical standards across the European Parliament, European Commission, and other EU institutions, which included the European Council, the Court of Auditors, and the European Central Bank, among others.
However, in a reversal, the EPP decided to align with right-wing factions, undermining earlier commitments to the proposal made by Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament and EPP member.
The decision comes despite a previous resolution from the Parliament itself on July 12, 2023, labeling the initial proposal as "unsatisfactory" and lacking independence.
The current political landscape within the European Parliament has shifted, with right-wing parties, including the European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR), the Patriots of Europe (PfE), and the European Sovereigntists (ESN), gaining traction and forming a new majority that opposes the initiatives driven by the progressive coalitions.
In a communication that accompanied the EPP's opposition, they stated that while they support initiatives to enhance ethical standards, they oppose the creation of an external body to govern internal parliamentary affairs.
Loránt Vincze, an EPP MEP, expressed concerns that the body might compromise the presumption of innocence and unfairly impact the reputation of politicians.
In light of this opposition, socialist and liberal factions in the Parliament expressed frustration, with some representatives accusing the EPP of hypocrisy regarding transparency, particularly in its reluctance to submit to the same standards it advocates for external organizations.
To address the growing concerns regarding transparency and accountability, coordinators from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe, the Greens, and the Left groups have urged Roberta Metsola to remain committed to establishing the Ethics Board.
Parliamentary sources indicated that future steps are being mulled over, including the possibility of bringing the issue back to the plenary for further discussion.
As developments unfold, various factions within the Parliament continue to navigate the complexities of maintaining ethical governance across the EU's legislative framework.
The initiative aimed at creating this ethics body followed a proposal from the European Commission in June 2023, amidst allegations of corruption involving several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and their assistants in relation to Qatar and Morocco.
Initially, the proposal included several key powers, such as investigatory and sanctioning abilities; however, these were stripped away throughout the negotiation process.
The body was intended to foster ethical conduct among MEPs and provide a structured mechanism for coordination and sharing of ethical standards across the European Parliament, European Commission, and other EU institutions, which included the European Council, the Court of Auditors, and the European Central Bank, among others.
However, in a reversal, the EPP decided to align with right-wing factions, undermining earlier commitments to the proposal made by Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament and EPP member.
The decision comes despite a previous resolution from the Parliament itself on July 12, 2023, labeling the initial proposal as "unsatisfactory" and lacking independence.
The current political landscape within the European Parliament has shifted, with right-wing parties, including the European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR), the Patriots of Europe (PfE), and the European Sovereigntists (ESN), gaining traction and forming a new majority that opposes the initiatives driven by the progressive coalitions.
In a communication that accompanied the EPP's opposition, they stated that while they support initiatives to enhance ethical standards, they oppose the creation of an external body to govern internal parliamentary affairs.
Loránt Vincze, an EPP MEP, expressed concerns that the body might compromise the presumption of innocence and unfairly impact the reputation of politicians.
In light of this opposition, socialist and liberal factions in the Parliament expressed frustration, with some representatives accusing the EPP of hypocrisy regarding transparency, particularly in its reluctance to submit to the same standards it advocates for external organizations.
To address the growing concerns regarding transparency and accountability, coordinators from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe, the Greens, and the Left groups have urged Roberta Metsola to remain committed to establishing the Ethics Board.
Parliamentary sources indicated that future steps are being mulled over, including the possibility of bringing the issue back to the plenary for further discussion.
As developments unfold, various factions within the Parliament continue to navigate the complexities of maintaining ethical governance across the EU's legislative framework.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
