Metsola excluded from declaration of conflict of interest rule - Politico

Politico has published an article highlighting the code of ethics at the European Parliament, specifically pointing out an exception regarding its President, Roberta Metsola.It reads that following the 2022 Qatargate cash-for-influence scandal Metsol

By: independent.com.mt

Sep 04 2024
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Metsola excluded from declarat

Politico has published an article highlighting the code of ethics at the European Parliament, specifically pointing out an exception regarding its President, Roberta Metsola.

It reads that following the 2022 Qatargate cash-for-influence scandal Metsola decided the best way to fight corruption "was to expose it to the disinfecting sunlight of transparency." It states that Metsola pushed a new code of ethics through which, among other things, demands that Parliament's senior members declare conflicts of interest, including any 'involving his or her family, emotional life or economic interest', it reads. It added that the President was left out of the new rules

It states that "Had she been required to make such a declaration, she might have considered notifying the public that her husband was the top EU lobbyist for the Miami-based Royal Caribbean Group, the world's second-largest cruise ship company and a major corporate polluter."

It reads that Instead, Metsola's husband's job went largely unnoticed even when working to influence legislation.

The article states that there is no suggestion the Metsolas engaged in a cover-up and that Metsola's husband filled out the proper lobbying registrations, which were publicly available. It also states that there is no indication Metsola broke Parliament's rules, nor any evidence that she used her powers to influence legislation improperly. "Yet there's no denying that the absence of a formal disclosure has sheltered the relationship between the Parliament president and a lobbyist from public scrutiny," it reads.

It quotes the president's spokesperson as saying that "Attempting to classify Mr. Metsola's employment as raising any possible conflict of interest - real or perceived - is wrong," as being married to someone in employment does not constitute a potential conflict of interest according to the Parliament's rules. The spokesperson is also quoted as saying that the President's role was different to the holders of other offices that are in the ethics rules, and that the President represents the interests of the institution which is the European Parliament. The new rules aimed at positions linked to a specific portfolio which thus have an increased risk of potential conflicts of interest, it quotes the spokesperson as saying.

The article, however, says that the example of the Metsolas highlights the limitations of the Parliament's transparency rules. It quotes Nicholas Aiossa, the director of Transparency International EU. as saying that "there's no reason why President Metsola - or any president - should be exempt from filing such a declaration."

Read the full article here