Publication date:
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Four years after the 2011 'cash for amendments' scandal in the European Parliament, and three years after the adoption of the Code of Conduct for MEPs, ALTER-EU believes that it is time for a review of the rules for MEPs to ensure that conflicts of interest and undue influence are avoided. Our new briefing Ten policy recommendations for a strengthened MEP Code of Conduct sets out ALTER-EU's proposals which include a ban on side jobs with companies or groups that are involved in EU lobbying. We also recommend tighter disclosure requirements for outside financial interests; a strengthened ethics advisory committee; and stronger sanctions for violations of the rules.
Executive summary / policy recommendations:
ALTER-EU's 10 policy recommendations are as follows:
- Ban MEPs from advising or providing other lobby services to companies influencing the European Parliament
- Ensure that the Code of Conduct includes measures to tackle and prevent possible conflicts of interests when they occur
- Better define a conflict of interest
- Tighten disclosure requirements for outside financial interests
- Reform and extend the mandate of the advisory committee
- Augment the existing remedies and/ or sanctions and ensure these are being applied when conflicts of interest occur
- Prevent attempts of policy capture of individual members in their duties
- Acknowledge that the risks of MEPs going through the revolving door when leaving office are real
- Tighten guidelines in relation to gifts and hospitality funded by third parties
- Address the lack of transparency rules for European Parliament cross-party groups
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