The billion-euro scandals and involvement of European banks in money laundering transactions are being debated today (Wednesday 3 October) by MEPs in the European Parliament on the initiative of the Greens/EFA Group. On the same day, the European Commission responds to the money laundering scandal at Pilatus Bank and demands of the Greens/EFA Group to […]
Transparency Register: Parliament avoids steering negotiations over the cliff
Dear journalists, dear friends, Today, the leadership of Christian-Democrats (EPP), Social-Democrats (S&D) and Liberals (ALDE) in the European Parliament turned a corner for negotiations with EU Commission and Council for a stronger Transparency Register for lobbyists last minute to avoid driving them over the cliff. Parliament’s lead-negotiators Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, FR, EP vice-president) and […]
Join in! For more transparency in EU legislation
Sir or Madam, dear friends, In March, the European Court has ruled for much more transparency in EU legislation. Yesterday, President Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia) replied to me that he did not want to take advantage of these opportunities. To convince him and to use the full potential of the new judgment for more transparency, […]
We need a European label for social and solidarity economy products
This Thursday, 5 July, MEPs voted by a large majority in favour of the own-initiative report “recommendations to the Commission on a Statute for social and solidarity-based enterprises”. Only the right-wing opponents of Europe voted against. With the approval in plenary, a strong “legislative own-initiative report” has been presented, which puts the Commission under an […]
EU Ombudswoman’s final report: ECB risks its credibility and independence with Draghi’s G30 membership
Today EU Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly presented her final decision on the membership of ECB President Mario Draghi in the Group of Thirty (G30). The ECB had rejected the request of the EU Ombudsman to end Draghi’s membership of the G30. O’Reilly now acknowledges the ECB’s “continuing maladministration”. The Group of Thirty is an opaque association […]
Lack of transparency for MEP expenses: public pressure leads to re-start of the reform
Sir, Madam, dear journalists, On Monday, the Bureau of the European Parliament stopped a reform of the General Expenditure Allowance (GEA) by a narrow majority. Today, the Conference of Presidents (CoP) has critically discussed the Bureau’s decision and decided to reinstate the Bureau working group that drafted the reform proposal that the Bureau had suspended […]