Today, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the Commission’s proposal for an EU Ethics body. Renew Europe has been clear and consistent since the outset: the Commission’s proposal is far from our ambition and doesn’t meet EU citizens’ expectations. Without independence, investigative powers and capacity to recommend sanctions, this ethics body is pointless and toothless.
We regret that our amendment calling on the Commission to repeal its proposal and to come forward with a new proposal for a genuine, independent and strong EU Ethics Body has been rejected by the other political groups. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, who will represent our institution in the negotiations, must defend the position of our House: an independent EU Ethics body, with investigative powers and the capacity to recommend sanctions. Renew Europe will not accept a weak EU Ethics body.
Stéphane Séjourné, President of Renew Europe, has declared:
"By not voting in favour of this resolution, the EPP is showing us how ethics and transparency do not count for them. Once again, the EPP does not back up its grand speeches with action. The European institutions must have an EU Ethics body, but not at any price. This body must have investigative powers and be independent. We cannot explain to the citizens that we are setting up a toothless body, even less so after the Qatargate scandal. Let's be serious, let's be ambitious!"
Gilles Boyer (France, Horizons), who negotiated the resolution on behalf of Renew Europe, added:
"We reject the idea of an EU Ethics body in name only. Restoring the confidence of our fellow citizens in our institutions must be our course, all the more so after the damage caused by Qatargate. However, by letting the European institutions control themselves, by not giving this body real investigative powers, the EU would be failing in its duty".
