Lessons from the cash-for-influence scandal: block MEPs from taking second jobs

Publication date: 
dimanche, April 17, 2011
Author: 
Olivier Hoedeman
Media title: 
New Europe

The cash-for-influence scandal has unleashed, perhaps for the first time ever, a broad debate about the relations between MEPs and industry lobbyists. It has also sparked an important process of drafting stricter ethics and transparency rules for the European Parliament.

Excerpt: 

A working group of ten MEPs led by Parliament President Buzek meets for the first time this week, with the task to present detailed proposals before the summer break. In the wake of the cash-for-influence scandal it is hard to find any MEPs that openly question the need for stricter rules. But it is a public secret that there is a significant number of MEPs that oppose effective rules. There's reason to fear that at least some of the MEPs in the new working group might belong to this category of low-profile opponents to change.

Link to original article: 
http://www.neurope.eu/articles/105931.php