International

Last week I devoted several days to the International Anti-Corruption Conference organised by Transparency International (TI) in Bangkok. My most important message was for the European Commission – will you at last take action against growing corruption in Europe?

It is certainly a very long journey to undertake for what was all told no more than half a day of actual participation in a conference. In general I try to avoid long distance travel, because there’s quite enough to do in Brussels itself and in addition to that we have the ridiculous business of a monthly trip to Strasbourg. In this case I made an exception, however, because I found it high time that, not only within the walls of the European Parliament, but outside them too, it was made clear that we in Europe are doing too little about rising corruption.

A few figures: 78% of Europeans think that their government is corrupt, varying from 22% in Denmark to 95% in Greece. On TI’s official list, too, can be found a number of EU member states that businesses believe to be more corrupt than they were the previous year. You’d think such figures would convince the European Commission that it should make plans to bring about more effective cooperation in this area. Corruption is hardly ever a purely national issue. From countries such as Romania and Bulgaria, but also from Italy and Greece, the phenomenon is spreading rapidly over the rest of Europe.

Corruption always affects the poorest, because the rich can afford a few bribes, as well as using nepotism to protect their own interests. In Brussels itself there is also a lack of integrity. Take for instance the ex-Commissioners who line their pockets by taking on lobbying jobs and cashing in on their insider knowledge and contacts.

In the coming months I will of course continue to put pressure on the Commission. It is unacceptable that their only ‘concrete’ plan for next year is once more to draw up a report putting forward ‘ideas’. What is need now is stronger cooperation between the police and judicial services of the different member states. Together with TI and like-minded Euro-MPs we will try to ensure that the Commission and the member states take swift action in relation to this matter.

For more information on the conference, see IACC: Restoring Trust: Global Action for Transparency