As a consequence of the corruption scandal involving the EU Parliament, the European representative body has tightened its lobbying rules. After the group leaders approved a plan by Parliament President Roberta Metsola, the European Parliament in Strasbourg announced that MEPs would not be allowed to lobby MEPs for six months after leaving the European Parliament. The reform will come into effect on May 1st.
The EU Parliament also announced that former MEPs who want to work as lobbyists or representatives must be “registered in the transparency register”. As a result, they are “not entitled to access rights and opportunities that they had as former MPs”. Further measures against undue influence would be examined in the coming weeks, the message said.
The EU Parliament is still struggling with the corruption scandal surrounding its then Vice-Chair Eva Kaili, which became known in December. A central role in the criminal investigation is played by former Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri, who after leaving Parliament worked as a representative of an NGO. He has admitted to having passed large sums of money to MEPs.
