Nótaí faisnéise
Statement by MEP Dr. Hannah Neumann on the recent allegations of corruption involving a member of the European Parliament
Strasbourg, 14 December 2022
"I am appalled by the allegations of fraud and corruption made against at least one member of the European Parliament, who is also a member of the EP Delegation for relations with the Arab peninsula. These allegations are simply inconceivable for a democratic institution such as the European Parliament.
I reiterate my strong condemnation of all attempts to influence the actions of the European Parliament's bodies, including the EP Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, by illegal means - whatever their origin.
While we must await the result of the ongoing judiciary investigation to establish the responsibilities of individual members of the European parliament, it is vital to already now draw up a few conclusions.
It is important that the European Parliament streamline its internal procedures and controls with a view to address any possible cases of corruption and external undue influence in the quickest possible way. Promoting a renewed culture of transparency inside the European Parliament, e.g. by enhancing the rules concerning the registration of lobbyists, is key.
Contacts with third countries should also be reviewed. The so-called "friendship groups" and other informal groupings of parliamentarians amplifying the interests of third countries must be strictly regulated, i.a. to prevent them from undermining the work of official bodies of the European Parliament. Further, trips or events of members financed by third countries, should be subject to strict controls, if not forbidden.
There should be no room in the European Parliament for opaque or contestable practices involving lobbies and pressure groups, irrespective of whether they are based inside or outside the European Union.
It is time to promote a genuine culture of transparency. Only transparency and full compliance with anti-corruption rules may prevent unscrupulous parties from attempting to unduly influence the work of our institution and thereby undermine the valuable work of the European Parliament on sensitive issues such as the respect and the promotion of human and social rights.
If the allegations prove to be true, trust has been broken and the diplomatic relations concerned by this will have to be revised. We should be clear that the European Parliament does not accept foreign interference unduly influencing its work. I therefore call for a revision of our bilateral relations with the concerned countries, based on mutual respect and understanding, but also on strict compliance with the basic rules of cooperation between the countries and their parliaments or consultative councils.
As far as the EP's Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula is concerned, we are committed to multiplying our efforts to denounce all abusive practices in order to promote the EU's values and principles in the world. It is essential that the EU and its parliament do not deviate from their institutional mission on behalf of all European citizens."
Statement by the Chair on recent attacks on civilian infrastructures in Saudi Arabia and in the United Arab Emirates
Brussels, 30/03/2022
Parliament's Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula (DARP) Hannah Neumann issued the following statement
"The Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula strongly condemns multiple recent attacks by the Houthi movement on Saudi Arabia civilian infrastructures, including the one on 25 March 2022 that struck an Aramco facility in Jeddah.
DARP also reiterates in the strongest possible terms its condemnation of the attacks against a fuel tank storage facility near Abu Dhabi airport in January 2022, resulting in the death of three people.
DARP stresses that latest attacks increase the risk of further intensification of the Yemen conflict and undermine ongoing efforts to end the war. In this regard, DARP regrets that the Houthis continue to reject calls for peace and instead respond with aerial attacks on civilian objectives, at a time when all the parties involved in the conflict should be focused on de-escalation and bringing urgent humanitarian relief to the Yemeni people
The UN Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen stated that all parties to the conflict committed a range of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including attacks that may amount to war crimes. DARP therefore reiterates that only a meaningful political compromise can put an end to the conflict in Yemen and calls for restraint to avoid further escalation in a war that has already caused unspeakable sufferings and thousands of deaths to the innocent Yemeni people.
DARP finally urges all parties to cooperate unreservedly with the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, and quickly achieve a ceasefire, which would be the precondition for a comprehensive and inclusive political agreement. In this regard, DARP welcomes the recent Saudi-led coalition's announcement of a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate peace-making efforts during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan."
Press contact:
Office of Hannah Neumann - tel. +32 2 28 45705 - e-mail: hannah.neumann@ep.europa.eu
Delegation for Relations with Arab Peninsula Secretariat - e-mail: darp@ep.europa.eu