The sessions of the European Parliament in Strasbourg usually have their own dynamics. Away from the political mill of Brussels, MPs discuss day-to-day issues in a more relaxed way, which also makes political compromises more likely.
But the first meeting of the year this week is likely to be less smooth than usual. Lawmakers are set to get to work on the corruption scandal that rocked the entire European Union in early December.
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Belgian investigators searched several private rooms and offices of parliamentarians. The then deputy speaker of Parliament Eva Kaili and her partner Francesco Giorgi, who also works in Parliament, were arrested along with two other suspects and are in custody.
Successor Kailis will be elected
They are accused of money laundering and corruption. The governments of Qatar and Morocco are said to have tried to influence EU policies.
As a visible sign of the new beginning, the successor to Eva Kaili, who has been removed from office, will be elected in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Several candidates have already positioned themselves.
The other groups noted with some astonishment that the Social Democrats had nominated Marc Angel, 59, from Luxembourg, and are again claiming the post to which they are entitled according to party proportional representation.
EU Vice President Eva Kaili’s successor will be elected on Wednesday. © AFP/Eric Vidal
The resentment about this is high because all those accused and suspected of this scandal are in the group of European social democrats – and the crisis does not seem to be over for them.
More recently, Belgian MEP Marie Arena resigned as chair of the Human Rights Inquiry Committee. The socialist, in her own words, “forgot” to indicate a luxurious trip to Qatar.
The Social Democrats are under pressure
Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella also admitted on Sunday that he had been invited to the emirate.
So the social democrats are under a lot of pressure. But despite the scope of the scandal, there were no targeted attacks by competing parties from which political capital could be drawn – it’s surprisingly quiet in Strasbourg.
This has mostly to do with Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola – and the EU Parliament’s dismal reputation among citizens.
Reform proposals for more transparency
The 43-year-old sees the corruption scandal as an attack on the credibility of parliament, indeed the entire European Union. She repeatedly emphasizes that there is no self-service mentality among MPs.
Lawmakers often worked late into the night and did an excellent job, says Metsola. That is what this Parliament should be known for and people should be proud of.
It was she who proposed stricter transparency rules for parliamentarians and lobbyists shortly after the scandal was disclosed. Going forward, “all meetings planned with third parties” in connection with parliamentary decisions will be made public, according to his reform document, which Metsola presented in Strasbourg on Monday.
Day pass for ex-deputies
As an additional measure to combat possible corruption, former MPs must no longer be issued with a permanent access card to Parliament and must no longer be allowed to grant access to others. Instead, they should only get a day pass.
The president of parliament refutes criticism that the reforms are not more drastic, pointing out that they are just the first measures that could be implemented in the coming weeks without major problems. Further tightening would follow in the coming months.
Morocco has always been the spoiled child of European foreign policy.
Miguel Urbanodeputy for the left
Morocco may discover these days that other conditions now prevail in the European Parliament. In recent years, the EU’s criticism of human rights violations in the Maghreb State has always been rather moderate.
This also has to do with the country’s central role in European refugee policy and the fight against terrorism. However, the EU’s reluctance may lessen after the corruption scandal.
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On Tuesday, for the first time in 25 years, the human rights situation in Morocco will be publicly discussed in the plenary session in Strasbourg.
Morocco has always been the “spoiled child of European foreign policy”, says Miguel Urban, a left-wing deputy. This exceptional position must now come to an end.
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