EU Common Ethics Body
News:
The EU Commission has proposed a common ethics body for EU officials.
What:
- It is a proposed common body that would frame common rules of conduct for institutions under the EU.
Significance:
- The proposal comes after the Qatargate controversy i.e. a cash-for-influence scandal that affected the EU Parliament last year.
- EU doesn’t have any comprehensive lobbying regulation at present.
How:
- The common rules of conduct would apply to EU officials with regards to acceptance of:
- Gifts
- Hospitality
- Travel
- Awards
- Decorations
- Prizes
- Honours, etc.
- It would set transparency rules to guide
- Meetings with interest representatives
- EU officials’ activities after leaving their office
- Officials’ declaration of assets and interests
- However, it wouldn’t have any investigating powers.
Who:
- It would be chaired by the participating institutions on a rotating basis.
- It would involve 5 independent experts.
- The rules would cover lobbying activities in:
- European Commission
- European Council
- European Parliament
- European Central Bank
- European Court of Justice
- European Court of Auditors
- Economic and Social Committee
- Committee of the Regions
