JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions

14.12.2022 - (2022/3012(RSP))

pursuant to Rule 132(2) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure
replacing the following motions:
B9-0581/2022 (Renew)
B9-0582/2022 (Verts/ALE)
B9-0583/2022 (PPE)
B9-0584/2022 (S&D)
B9-0585/2022 (The Left)
B9-0587/2022 (ECR)

Jeroen Lenaers, Sven Simon, David McAllister, Michael Gahler
on behalf of the PPE Group
Iratxe García Pérez, Gabriele Bischoff, Pedro Marques, Birgit Sippel, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Domènec Ruiz Devesa, Tonino Picula, Pierfrancesco Majorino, Raphaël Glucksmann
on behalf of the S&D Group
Sophia in ’t Veld
on behalf of the Renew Group
Terry Reintke, Philippe Lamberts
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Jacek Saryusz‑Wolski
on behalf of the ECR Group
Manon Aubry
on behalf of The Left Group
Tiziana Beghin, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Maria Angela Danzì, Estrella Durá Ferrandis, Mario Furore, Sabrina Pignedoli

European Parliament resolution on suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions

(2022/3012(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its decision of 27 April 2021 on the conclusion of an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission on a mandatory transparency register[1],

– having regard to its resolution of 16 September 2021 on strengthening transparency and integrity in the EU institutions by setting up an independent EU ethics body[2],

– having regard to the legal principle of the presumption of innocence,

– having regard to its resolution of 9 March 2022 on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation[3],

– having regard to Rules 10 and 11 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office has opened an ongoing investigation into allegations of money-laundering, corruption and participation in a criminal organisation; whereas several arrests and searches have taken place since 9 December 2022, affecting both current and former Members of the European Parliament, as well as staff;

B. whereas several suspects have already been charged with money-laundering, corruption and participation in a criminal organisation; whereas police forces have seized considerable amounts of money from the possession of suspects following searches of their homes;

C. whereas trust in Parliament’s integrity and the rule of law is paramount for the functioning of European democracy; whereas it is key to ensure that democratic processes are not captured by private and external interests and that citizens’ rights are fully respected;

D. whereas the ability of interest group representatives to influence decision-making in Parliament by way of arguments is a vital part of European democracy; whereas on the other hand, inappropriate means of influencing, bribery and other criminal offences are unacceptable;

E. whereas Parliament outlined its position calling for an ambitious ethics body in its resolution of 16 September 2021;

F. whereas Directive (EU) 2019/1937[4] protects whistleblowers when, under specific circumstances, they directly and publicly disclose wrongdoing;

G. whereas the transparency register is a central piece of the ethical framework for and the transparency of the EU institutions;

H. whereas the non-governmental organisation Fight Impunity has not to date been registered in the transparency register;

1. Is appalled by and expresses serious concern about the alleged acts of corruption, money-laundering and participation in a criminal organisation by Members, former Members and staff of the European Parliament in exchange for influence over Parliament’s decisions; supports Parliament’s full cooperation with the ongoing criminal investigation;

2. Denounces, in the strongest terms, Qatar’s alleged attempts to influence Members, former Members and staff of the European Parliament through acts of corruption, which constitute serious foreign interference in the EU’s democratic processes;

3. Underlines that the gravity and magnitude of the current investigations require Parliament and the EU institutions to react with unequivocal unity and unwavering resolve;

4. Calls for a special committee tasked with identifying potential flaws in the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity and corruption and making proposals for reforms, building on the work of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs and best practices in other parliaments;

5. Commits to setting up a committee of inquiry, under Article 226 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, following the outcome of the criminal investigations and possible court proceedings, in order to investigate cases of corruption and improper actions by non-EU countries seeking to buy influence in the European Parliament;

6. Welcomes the termination of Member Eva Kaili from her position as Vice-President, as provided for by Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure;

7. Demands that a dedicated vice-president be put in charge of integrity and fighting corruption and foreign interference in Parliament;

8. Urges the Commission to put forward a proposal to set up the ethics body as soon as possible, in line with Parliament’s resolution of 16 September 2021;

9. Urgently calls for the access badges of representatives of Qatari interests to be suspended, in line with Rule 123 of its Rules of Procedure, until the judicial investigations provide relevant information and clarification;

10. Believes that the EU transparency register should be strengthened by increasing the budget and the number of staff, so that it is able to verify the information provided by applicants and registrants more thoroughly; believes furthermore that its scope should be expanded to include representatives of non-EU countries;

11. Emphasises that proper regulation and monitoring of friendship groups is a prerequisite for their continued existence in Parliament; instructs the Questors to implement the existing rules and to develop and maintain an accessible and up-to-date register of friendship groups and declarations;

12. Recommends a revision of the Staff Regulations, especially Article 22c thereof, in order to align it with the standards of the Whistleblower Directive;

13. Emphasises the role of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), Europol and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in the fight against corruption; calls for the capacities of and cooperation between the EPPO and OLAF to be strengthened further; calls for common anti-corruption rules applicable to Members and staff of EU bodies;

14. Suspends all work on legislative files relating to Qatar, particularly as regards visa liberalisation and planned visits, until the allegations have either been confirmed or dismissed;

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Government and Consultative Assembly of Qatar.

 

• [1] OJ C 506, 15.12.2021, p. 127.
• [2] OJ C 117, 11.3.2022, p. 159.
• [3] OJ C 347, 9.9.2022, p. 61.
• [4] Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (OJ L 305, 26.11.2019, p. 17).