Lobbying scandal Inquiries into scandal of ‘influence-for-cash'

Publication date: 
jeudi, March 24, 2011
Author: 
Constant Brand
Media title: 
European Voice

Two MEPs resign, third expelled by group, while their offices are sealed to preserve evidence.

Excerpt: 

Andy Rowell from Alter-EU, an alliance for lobbying transparency, said: "This scandal was an accident waiting to happen." He added that it was "not surprising" that MEPs had found it so easy to act on behalf of fake lobbyists. "Rules on ethics and conflicts of interest are simply too weak," he said. The European Public Affairs Consultancies' Association said that offering any financial inducement to an MEP would be a "clear violation" of the association's code of conduct.