EU Commission proposes ethics body to boost trust

The European Commission on Thursday proposed establishing a new body to set ethical conduct standards in an effort to increase trust between EU institutions and the public.

Setting up a watchdog has been under discussion for years, but gained momentum after several sitting and former EU lawmakers were charged with money laundering and corruption in recent months.

The revelations “reminded everyone that there are gaps in our systems,” said EU Commission Vice President Vera Jourova.

“Democracy in Europe can thrive only if people trust the institutions.

“And such trust is not a given, we have to earn it,” she added.

A clear, transparent and common set of rules for all EU institutions was needed to remain credible and accountable, Jourova said.

This is to include joint standards for the acceptance of gifts, meetings with interest representatives, interest declarations, side activities and the publicity of information, a statement said.

Once the EU’s main institutions agree to the common rules, they will themselves be in charge of implementing and monitoring the standards as well as sanctioning breaches, Jourova said.

The proposed body would not deal with individual investigations, the statement said.

The proposal was met with mixed reactions from EU lawmakers.

Gaby Bischoff, a German Social Democrat, said the proposed body was “not a real ethics authority” as it cannot initiate investigations.

Sven Simon, a German conservative EU lawmaker, called the proposal “appropriate,” but warned of politicising the body.

Representatives of different EU institutions are due to meet on July 3 with the goal of reaching consensus on the new body ahead of next year’s European elections.

(dpa/NAN)