International

SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong is urging an immediate tightening up of the Code of Conduct following revelations of corruption amongst MEPs. ‘Euro-MPs who allow themselves to be bought by lobbyists should suffer immediate expulsion,’ says De Jong. ‘Just as importantly, we must institute regulations to prevent this sort of behaviour from occurring in the future. I intend to propose once more the tightening up of the code of conduct that I have put forward in the past.’

The SP Euro-MP has long criticised the close relationship between MEPs and lobbyists. The Parliament’s existing rules are not sufficient to combat corruption. Members are obliged only to let the Parliament authorities know if they receive gifts worth more than €50.

“I’m going to re-present proposals for a ban on accepting gifts worth above €50,” says De Jong, adding that he assumes that after this scandal the European Parliament will take seriously the need for stricter rules of conduct and that he will be working on this matter himself.