These measures aim to reinforce integrity and close loopholes to protect the Institution and its Members from attempts to interfere in Parliament’s work.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “The reforms we have put in place in the last months boost the integrity of Parliament’s systems, make decision-making more transparent and strengthen the Parliament as a whole. We want to consolidate trust with the European citizens and re-affirm the European Parliament as an open institution. Next year we will return with a more modern and more efficient Parliament.”
Closing loopholes
Implementing the reform plan proposed by President Metsola in January 2023 and endorsed by Parliament’s group leaders to increase integrity and accountability, the Bureau approved revised rules on former members (new revolving door policy), new rules on access to the Parliament, and transparency obligations on interest representatives’ participation in events held on Parliament’s premises. It also agreed on a revision of the internal rules on whistleblowing.
Parliament has also reinforced its cooperation with national judicial and law enforcement authorities by swiftly acting upon requests by national authorities, among others for waiver of parliamentary immunity.
Separately, group leaders clarified the rules regarding human rights urgency debates in plenary to protect the procedure from undue interference. Following resolutions in December 2022 and January 2023, group leaders in the Conference of Presidents also approved guidelines to support MEPs and staff in their relations with third country representatives (diplomats and state representatives). Parliament has finally seen its call for an ambitious and independent EU ethics body answered as the Commission has presented the proposal for an Interinstitutional agreement. The President has taken the lead on negotiations for a result that reflects Parliament’s ambitions.
In parallel, changes to the Parliament’s rules of procedure have been proposed by the constitutional affairs committee. They include: wider scope of mandatory declarations of members about of meetings with third parties; a ban on the activities of informal friendship groups that could result in confusion with official parliamentary activities; clearer rules to help avoid conflicts of interest and increased transparency in the financial declarations of members. The committee also proposes a strengthened role for the advisory committee on the code of conduct and a revised list of sanctions. The final vote on these measures will take place in the September plenary.
The measures respond to plenary resolutions calling for an increase in transparency and accountability as well as a stronger culture of security regarding foreign interference attempts.
Further recommendations
Other medium and long-term measures have been proposed by the special committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation, which were debated and voted on during the July 2023 plenary session.
Easily accessible information
Parliament’s website now provides centralised and easily accessible information related to the integrity of parliamentary work under a new Transparency and Ethics tab.
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