A code of conduct for MEPs

"Gentlemen, accepting bribes is forbidden," announces dailyEl Mundo, as the European Parliament prepares to endorse the new code of conduct for MEPs. In the wake of the cash-for-amendments scandal revealed by The Sunday Times last March, the new rules will help MEPs "avoid the temptation of bribes in a town where 15,000 people devote their time to lobbying," continues El Mundo. In line with the provisions of the text drafted by the Committee for Constitutional Affairs, which will come into force before Christmas — "a time when presents pile up on the desks of companies and politicians" — it will now be illegal to accept “bribes or presents worth more than 150 euros.” The daily continues:

By the same token, all the members of parliament will have to disclose their business activities and earnings for the three years preceding their nomination, and make public all revenues of more than 5,000 euros a year.” The text adds that “MEPs will have to hand over presents received when acting as official representatives to the parliament’s president."

The salaries paid to the 754 MEPs [which can amount to 10,000 euros per month after deductions] are the subject of much indignation in a society that is in the grip of a severe economic crisis. This loss of credibility has obliged the European Parliament to introduce the code of conduct which stipulates a range of sanctions for parliamentarians who fail to observe the new rules.

Until now, there was no specific code of this kind, but a series of regulations dispersed throughout the parliament’s rules of procedure (...) MEPs will now have to ‘present a declaration of interests to the parliament’s president' that will include the MEP’s salary, any other paid work, and information about any positions on boards of directors, associations or NGOs.

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