To restore the reputational harm brought on by the Qatargate scandal, the European Parliament wants particular integrity measures, a checks and balances system, extra transparency within the decision-making course of on the degree of all establishments, and stronger guidelines to control lobbying, writes Victor Negrescu.
Victor Negrescu is a member of the European Parliament (S&D Group).
The current Qatargate corruption scandal has represented a chilly bathe for a lot of European decision-makers, in addition to for the picture of the European Parliament and of the European Union.
The Brussels bubble was at all times perceived as being the white horse of European politics, managing to keep away from large scandals, at the very least because the resignation of the Santer Fee.
Within the aftermath of such moments, voices are divided between those calling for revolutionary reforms and those wanting to take care of the established order. The variations elevated so radically that reaching a consensus turns into increasingly tough, regardless that it’s precisely the answer that we have to seek for.
To realize this, we have to construct a bridge between totally different views, by brazenly discussing how European politics has been performed, the procedures, the executive burdens, the integrity guidelines and how one can make the work within the European establishments extra environment friendly and efficient.
We have to launch an open-participatory session platform gathering all related stakeholders and institutional actors to replicate and establish the perfect options to maneuver ahead.
These attempting to painting the scandal as being solely the accountability of the European Parliament are fallacious. It needs to be a matter of concern for all EU establishments and likewise for European leaders. The present state of affairs shouldn’t be used to mismatch targets.
We have to combat in opposition to corruption and for integrity and transparency whereas persevering with to do our job.
Not all politicians are the identical. Many MEPs, from totally different political teams, and EU establishments, specifically the European Parliament, are working arduous to ship on the commitments made in the direction of EU residents.
I do know that arduous work and involvement don’t make headlines, however they make issues occur. In my years of expertise in European politics, by which I’ve contributed actively at drafting laws that may make folks’s lives higher, I’ve seen that these working actively don’t at all times get the visibility and the credit they deserve.
Few know concerning the meticulous work required for tabling amendments, the lengthy negotiations wanted to achieve a compromise, the struggles of many MEPs to get the one-minute intervention within the plenary, wanted to point out their work, the tough administrative load imposed for the administration of workplaces or the restrictions on the subject of the capability of the European Parliament to really generate or affect laws at European degree.
All of those points should be improved as a way to enable MEPs to concentrate on their activity of drafting laws. I’m happy with the work lots of my colleagues are doing and I’m not afraid of claiming that.
I additionally must reward the management proven by the S&D Group in dealing instantly with the present challenges by reacting with accountability and with out worry. Zero tolerance for corruption is the one resolution. I do know that since we’ve got efficiently achieved such reform in Romania.
For these transformations to achieve success we have to work transparently with civil society and hearken to EU residents. The modifications can’t be achieved behind the curtains.
We’d like particular integrity measures, a checks and balances system, extra transparency within the decision-making course of on the degree of all establishments, stronger guidelines designed to keep away from and counter international interference, to control lobbying, and to supply correct help to whistle-blowers in EU establishments. Extra accountability and accountability are wanted.
The European Parliament has been, for a few years, in all European polls, probably the most revered EU establishment. In some nations, together with my very own, it ranked higher than nationwide establishments.
We can’t take the state of affairs evenly. In a current dialogue with younger folks in Bucharest, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has proven as soon as extra management and our widespread need to take care of the present challenges head on.
I’m assured that we are able to regain folks’s belief.
