After the EU scandal, South Tyrolean MEP Herbert Dorfmann calls for more transparency in non-governmental organizations – and more decency on the part of parliamentary assistants.
TAGESZEITUNG Online: Mr Dorfmann, 600,000 euros were seized in the house of the vice president of the EU Parliament, Eva Kaili, the money was put in plastic bags. Is the EU a self-service shop?
Herbert Dorfman: I hope not. The money found with Ms. Kaili is not from the EU, but from Qatar. Dear Madam Vice-President did not get rich with the EU, but she allowed herself to be bribed by a state.
wHow badly this scandal damages the European Parliament and even more the EU as an institution.
This scandal is damaging all politics, although it must be said that this case is not due to a lack of security mechanisms. If everything you hear is true – and I myself only know the facts from the press – then it is criminal behavior.
Do you know Eva Kaili well?
Yes, she was my chair on the STOA committee. She is a very professional working woman and not one that would do nothing. No, she was professional and also competent.
What was your first reaction when you heard about this scandal?
I also know the other people involved, like Mr. Panzeri…
…Antonio Panzeri, who was in the EU Parliament until 2019…
Panzeri was my colleague in the EU Parliament for 10 years, he was already at the top when I was first elected to the EU Parliament in 2009. My first reaction was disbelief. I could never have imagined anything like this. I was surprised by the size, but also by the seemingly stupidity with which the protagonists did their job.
In addition to Eva Kaili, her partner Francesco Giorgi, who is said to be the most beautiful civil servant in Brussels, was also arrested.
The best looking officer? I didn’t know it, but it was true that Mrs. Kaili and her assistant Giorgi were considered a glamorous couple and acted like one. You have a small child who has also been to the European Parliament often. Ms. Kaili is amazing, she is a very beautiful woman…
And Panzeri?
Panzeri left the European Parliament in 2019. I knew him well, he was a very accommodating guy.
Did you know he worked as a lobbyist?
No, I saw him in Brussels from time to time after he left Parliament. But I only found out now that you have founded an NGO. Speaking of NGOs: If you want to get over this scandal, you have to deal with these NGOs first. We, the European People’s Party, have been calling for more transparency for years and the Social Democrats have always prevented this until now. And now the story has fallen on them. It is unacceptable that these NGOs, which even receive money from the EU, should not disclose where their funds come from. Socialists have always maintained that NGOs must be protected. But that’s nonsense! These NGOs have to make their income public, especially if they receive public money.
Do you think these NGOs are the big deal?
Yes, because it seems that some of these NGOs are fake organizations as well.
How can a layman imagine lobbying in the European Parliament?
You have to distinguish between lobbying and this scandal. In this scandal, the money went directly through one state, Qatar. It has never happened to me that someone offered me money. There are strict rules in this sense too…
That means?
If an MEP receives a gift worth more than €150, he must report this to Parliament, which then decides whether or not he can keep the gift. The same goes for paid travel, for example for lessons. There are relatively strict rules for dealing with associations and lobbyists.
Herbert Dorfmann
How exactly does lobbying work in the European Parliament?
Not much different than on a small scale. I was mayor in Feldthurns, then people lobbied on the church square. There are also interest representatives in the state parliament. This is quite normal and is also part of democracy. It is completely normal that associations, environmental organizations, etc. represent their interests in the pre-political arena, this is how our civil society works. I don’t even want to question NGOs, they have the right to influence politics. It’s the most normal thing in the world. It’s not normal to lobby with a bag full of cash.
In the EU Parliament there is an official register in which lobbyists must register…
Exactly, anyone who is not registered in this register cannot even enter Parliament. For your information: the heads of the South Tyrol office in Brussels are also considered lobbyists and are registered as such in the transparency register.
The lessons of this scandal?
One lesson we need to learn is the role of assistants in the European Parliament. This scandal teaches us that even higher demands must be placed on assistants in terms of transparency and the moral and ethical aspect. This stuffing bag scandal was organized by a clique of aides from Italy.
Interview: Arthur Oberhofer
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