The suspicion of a corruption case in the EU Parliament has shocked the EU politics. One of the vice presidents of the Parliament is suspected of acting for the interests of one Arab State of the Persian Gulf against the receipt of a large amount of money. The president of the Parliament is mentioning this case as an attack on the European democracy and is promising a gapless clarification.
On Friday, 9th December, the Belgian federal prosecutor has imprisoned four persons on the charges of political corruption. Among them also the Greek, who is one of the 14 vice presidents of the EU Parliament, Eva Kaili. The suspections are serious and the accusation is – partnership in a criminal association, money laundering and participation in suspected bribes. There is a suspection that Qatar lured with large money amounts and presents to try in this way to influence on political decisions in the favour of the named Gulf state. According to the media reports in the meantime cash in the amount of 1.5 millions of Euros was found with the suspects. However from the side of Eva Kaili and also from the side of the Qatar government these accusations were denied.
On the basis of the actual development the practice associated with lobbying and the behaviour codex are moving into the focus of the EU politics. Opposite to the opinion, which is quite frequent in the media, according to which the members of the EU Parliament have the obligation to report about the meetings with interest representatives etc., the rules of procedure of the EU Parliament are only mentioning this „Must„ as a suggestion. Regarding the receipt of presents there is a rule valid for the time of the mandate not to receive any presents out of courtesy, which might exceed the value of 150 Euros.
