From Brussels to Berlin: The rules of transparency and ethics of European lawmakers
New search Through corruption associated China Huawei Technological CompanyThe conclusions of the French court, which disrupts Marine Le Pen for embezzlement and the Hungarian proposal to make Eurodibuts to spread the obligations similar to those of their national counterparts. This series of main headlines Modern has developed transparency and morals that affect Eurodiputados.
Erudevotados must Achieving the Code of Conduct Full of standards on transparency and the ethics of pressure groups. What does it contain? How do you compare the standards in other European Union countries?
The behavior blog is the organization of Parliament. It was first presented in 2012 and renewed in 2023, It is designed to keep Eurodiputados in the Gulf And ensuring that they behave with integrity, transparency, sincerity, and protection at the same time the reputation of the institution.
In the essence, The law depends on the principle that the public service must be free from conflicting interestsWhether it is financial or family. To do this, deputies must maintain their personal and professional interests separate and announce their own interests and origins and any possible conflict in interests.
For example, After the scandal in the European Parliament related to Qatari officialsNow MEPS must announce any income for external activities that exceed 5,000 euros in a evaluation year. But unlike other countries, the European Union standards allow ministers to have external functions, which they have Arise cash De Ong Civil society organizations.
To ensure more transparency, MEPS must also publish their meeting records With pressure groups and officials from the European Union or outside, as well as any journey or behavior in which their travel, places of residence, or other third parties suffer. This information is available to the public in their profile, except for their data for commodities, which are still private.
If Eurodiput receives a gift With a value of more than 150 euros while practicing its official jobs, you must announce it and register it in a general record, you can consult yourself if you are curious to find out what is in the cabinet room in Parliament.
Of course, the rules mean little if it does not apply. Eurodiputados who violate this law may face sanctions The European Parliament Speaker, currently Roberta Mitsola, who will be announced publicly at the plenary session.
However, these criteria differ at the country level, and members of various parliaments have their own rules on transparency, pressure groups and conflicts of interest. “Euronews” analyzed the situation in Hungary, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. Here is a summary:
Hungarian draft law against meps
Last month, ruling party Hodngaro Fidesz-kdnp A new law suggested This can provide Eurodiputates to transparency criteria similar to the rules of their national counterparts. This means explaining the goods at the beginning and end of the state, and between every year in January.
Data will extend beyond Eurodiputa To include family members who live in the same house, but while the first will be public, it will not be the last.
This data must include goods and vehiclesInvestments, any periodic income or reward, and any fees in a non -profit company or organization.
The new draft law also states that MEPS They do not comply with new transparency data that can see their states canceled by the National Electoral Office (one), and threatens to refer to the opposition leader, Peter Magear, according to him.
Spanish standards for pressure groups are not really working
In SpainFor example, There is no registration for pressure groups As the person on the European level, but both representatives and members of the Senate are obligated to spread their institutional agenda, including meetings with “benefits representatives”.
In practice, however, This ban does not prevent pressure groups from organizing their meetings With the deputies without any trace, according to a recent report issued by the Office of Interest in the Spanish Parliament.
propagandaAs for gifts, The rules are very similar to the next MEPS in Brussels. Each of Eurodiputados and Senators cannot accept gifts that can be considered an attempt to influence their decisions. If its value exceeds 150 euros, they must not accept it, unless it is a personal gift from friends or family or a general discount available to everyone. If they receive gifts in official works, they must hand them over to the room until they are recorded and posted on the site.
Members must also announce the professional activities that have been implemented In the past five years, if they receive donations, gifts or financial assistance, they can influence their work. They must also announce whether they have cooperated with the foundations or associations. All this information must be published on the Congress or the Senate so that any citizen can consult it clearly and accessible.
Italian Human Personal Conduct Blog is not binding
In theory, Italian deputies and a member of the Senate They have two groups of rules to comply with: the behavior symbols that were presented in 2016 for the Parliament Chamber and in 2022 to the Senate, but what do you mean?
Both deputies and a member of the Senate They are forced to make a goods advertisement, including tax advertisements, property and campaigns expenses, in the three months of their election. Representatives have an additional step, since then They must also announce any position they occupied in private companies Or the audience in 30 days of your choice. All this is published on the Internet for general knowledge.
propagandaWhen it comes to gifts, things become interesting. House of Representatives has a clear base: There is no gift of more than 250 euros. If the journey, residence, or meals are responsible for another person, the law regulator must be published, for example, in public.
Senatebut, It is more lenient. Instead of determining an end, Senators are required to simply make sure that the gifts they accept suitable for “courtesy habits”, which appear mysterious enough to leave a wide maneuver margin.
But this is really important. The Senate symbol is binding, while the House of Representatives is not soSo it is more than just a set of suggestions from the right regulations.
France established an independent observation agency in 2013
Since 2013, France has strengthened its supervision of political activities with the creation of the supreme authority of the transparency of public life (HATVP). This creature From independent control It is designed to monitor the elected feesHowever, according to “Le Monde”, it mainly focuses on financial misconduct and control of expenditures, while moral issues often pass without anyone noticing them.
propagandaIn 2017, and The government of Emmanuel Macron submitted a bill “Restore confidence in public life”, and expand the role of Hatvp. The new responsibilities included supervising family employment and demanding presidential candidates to announce not only their origins, but also their interests.
A few years laterIn 2019, the latest law made the Hatvp, assuming the jobs that were previously running the FONCION Publishing Committee.
Today, statements and activities are available to deputies, members of the Senate and members of the European Parliament in general on the Supreme Authority site. In the case of French MEPS, asset data has been included since 2019. The inactivity, negligence, or misconceptions of politicians offer a responsibility of up to three years in prison and a sentence of 45,000 euros.
Germany offers its transparency record
Since 2021, Germany tightened the rules of transparency greatly The ethics of Bundestag members with the Law of Transparency, forcing them to declare any interest they represent.
propagandaNowadays, deputies must declare stocks in the property of companies that exceed 5 %, which represents an important change compared to the previous threshold of 25 %. Laws were also stiff against bribery, with a sentence between one year and ten years in prison.
To avoid conflicts of interests, Bundstag members cannot accept money Or the benefits that exceed its official salary, especially if it occurs in exchange for political services. They cannot obtain payments without providing legitimate service in return, although it is still allowed to donate.
Representatives must make their parallel functions public In the past and current, such as consulting, pressure groups, writings, or conferences, unless these activities are reported less than 1,000 euros per month or 10,000 euros annually. Failure to announce the required information can cause fines up to half a year of salary.
