AFCO rubber-stamps Buzek draft, gift provision weakened

Publication date: 
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Author: 
Gaspard Sebag
Media title: 
Europolitics

Making minor changes, the members of the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) rubber-stamped [..] the draft code of conduct for MEPs [...]. CEO (member of ALTER-EU) [...] points out the weakening of the provision concerning gifts and the importance of proper implementation.

Excerpt: 

Gifts of over €150 have to be handed over or refused. The reimbursement of “direct costs” relating to participation in any event in line with parliamentary work upon invitation will not be considered as a gift, however, according to an amendment to the original draft adopted by AFCO. "That's a problem because it creates a major loophole as it is often used in lobbying strategy," Oliver Hoedman from CEO told Europolitics.