EU parliament chief vows big reforms amid corruption scandal
- Changes include strengthening whistle-blower protections, ban on unofficial friendship groups and review of policing code of conduct rules
- Four people – including Greek MEP and ex-EU VP Eva Kaili – have been charged with ‘criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering’
The head of the European Parliament on Thursday vowed “a wide-ranging reform package” to clean up the legislature amid a corruption scandal linked to World Cup host Qatar.
The parliament’s speaker, Roberta Metsola, said the plan “will include a strengthening of the parliament’s whistle-blower protection systems, a ban on all unofficial friendship groups, a review of the policing of our code of conduct rules, and a complete and in-depth look at how we interact with third countries”.
She said she would lead the changes, and that the package would be ready “in the new year”.
Belgian authorities triggered the scandal by detaining six people last week.
Four of them – including an MEP and former European Parliament vice-president under Metsola, Eva Kaili – have been charged with “criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering”. The other two were released.
Both Kaili, a former television newsreader in Greece, and Qatari officials deny any wrongdoing.
