Special Committee on Foreign Interference must have the tools & teeth to tackle corruption

Today, Members of the European Parliament voted on the mandate for an updated special Committee on Foreign Interference, in the wake of the corruption scandal known as ‘Qatargate’, involving several MEPs and third countries. The Greens/EFA group successfully called for a comprehensive final report with concrete recommendations for action on reforms, transparency and accountability, and a broad mandate to investigate foreign interference and potential bribery and corruption.

Terry Reintke MEP, Greens/EFA President who negotiated the mandate on behalf of the group, comments:

“After this scandal we cannot do business as usual. Extending and expanding the mandate of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference is essential to rebuild the trust undermined by the recent corruption scandal. It is vital that this committee will have the necessary tools and the teeth to ensure proper public scrutiny and democratic oversight over the measures around transparency, integrity and accountability in the EU institutions.”

“The special committee must come out with a dedicated report looking into any potential shortcomings in the EU institutions rules and operations, in particular linked to foreign interference, and urgently propose reforms. We are also calling for the enlargement of the special committee, to reflect the importance of the work that will be carried out.”