MEPs have demanded a plenary debate following the scandal involving MEPs and EU officials.
Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Four people have been charged in an investigation into suspected bribery at the European Parliament by a Gulf state – reportedly Qatar.
Local media have reported that the accused country is Qatar, which the Qatari government has denied. Watchdogs and opposition MEPs have said it could be one of the biggest corruption scandals the European Parliament has ever seen.
The Left group has now demanded that the unfolding Qatar lobbying scandal be added to this week’s European Parliament plenary agenda in Strasbourg so that further details of the affair can be established and an appropriate response considered by MEPs.
The scandal revealed last week by Belgian media Le Soir and Knack implicates a Vice-President of Parliament, several other MEPs and senior figures.
“Our institution must be rigorous, transparent and tough on corruption,” said Left Group Co-President Manon Aubry. “We urgently need to find out what’s going on and who is involved so that a firm response can be delivered in the interests of the people we’re here to represent.”
“The full details of any criminality or corrupt practices influencing decisions in this house must be immediately brought to light,” said its Co-President Martin Schirdewan. “We demand total and uninhibited cooperation from the European Parliament with the investigating authorities.”
The Left will formally make the request for the addition of this topic to the plenary agenda at the opening of the session in Strasbourg on Monday at 5pm.
Further comment comes from the Greens group which, in a statement, said, “Zero tolerance against corruption and bribery; this must also and especially apply to the European Parliament. The mere suspicion of corruption and venality damages the reputation and credibility of the European Parliament. We Greens/EFA call on the Vice-President of the European Parliament to resign from her office with immediate effect. If the suspicions are confirmed, she must also resign from her mandate as an MEP in order to prevent further damage to the European Parliament and the European institutions.”
Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, comments, “We Greens/EFA strongly condemn corruption and bribery, cash and precious gifts cannot draw the political lines in this house. We demand comprehensive clarification and request a plenary debate and a full inquiry by the European Parliament. We Greens/EFA will vote against visa facilitation for Qatar in this week’s plenary vote. Also with regard to the rule of law in Hungary, it must be absolutely clear that the European Parliament does not put its credibility on the line.”
Greens/EFA MEP Erik Marquardt is the European Parliament’s rapporteur on visa facilitation for Qatar.
