/ world today news/ On behalf of the Socialists in the EP, the MEP negotiates on the new European directive to fight corruption
With 63 votes “for”, 2 “against” and 2 “abstentions”, MEPs from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) approved their position on the European anti-corruption directive. The negotiations between the political groups lasted nearly six months, and on the side of the socialists and the democrats, the main negotiator was Elena Yoncheva as a shadow rapporteur.
“In recent months, we have fought an extremely hard battle for the strictest possible measures at the European level against corruption both in the member states and in the European institutions themselves. It is obvious that in a number of countries results are lacking and we cannot rely only on promises and good intentions. It was time to take the fight against corruption to the European level,” she said after the vote.
“I am grateful to my colleagues for the support I received for a number of my proposals. Member States will now have to guarantee the independence of their anti-corruption bodies from political influence, and they will not be able to be elected by only one institution – for example national parliaments. Contrary to this principle, a few months ago, the ruling coalition in Bulgaria adopted a controversial law according to which the anti-corruption commission will consist of three members elected by the National Assembly. This raises serious doubts about political influence. When the directive enters into force, the law will have to be changed. This was exactly the goal – for the EU to be corrective in the fight against corruption, where the European capitals have no desire to achieve real results”, commented Elena Yoncheva.
She noted some of the new requirements. “Member states, including Bulgaria, will have to adopt detailed strategies to fight corruption, with specific implementation goals, which will be monitored by the European Commission. Every year, the Commission will prepare a report on the achievement of the set goals, including on corruption at the highest levels of government. This whole process will be led by a European Anti-Corruption Coordinator, whose role I fought for despite the skepticism of the right.”
“Bulgaria is among the only two countries in the EU that have refused to provide information to the European Commission during the preparation of the directive. This will no longer be possible due to the obligation to report the results achieved. I am happy with the inclusion of these texts, because countries like Bulgaria will no longer be able to hide the lack of results behind empty promises and distortion of the real picture,” said Elena Yoncheva.
The goal is for the European Parliament to approve a position on the directive by the end of February, after which negotiations with the member states in the Council will also take place.
To contact the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP:
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