Caterpillar declined to appear today in front of the European Parliament’s Inquiry Committee investigating the Panama Papers scandal. The US-based machine engineering company is alleged to have illegally used a Swiss subsidiary to record profits from its international spare parts business to minimise its tax burden. In contrast, Caterpillar decided in March 2017 to close […]
European Parliament calls for major steps towards greater transparency and integrity in the EU
Today the European Parliament has adopted my report on “Transparency, Accountability and Integrity in the EU Institutions” with a solid majority of 368 yes, 161 no and 60 abstentions. For the report voted Greens, Social-Democrats, Liberals and right-wing Conservatives. The Christian-Democrats voted against the report and isolated themselves. In March, the Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) […]
Timetable for the report Transparency, Accountability and Integrity in the EU institutions
04.12.2014 Coordinators’ decision and Appointment of rapporteur 05.02.2015 Authorisation of procedure by CPGP 12.02.2015 Announcement of procedure in Plenary 26.03.2015 Exchange of views (AFCO if not mentioned otherwise) 05.05.2015 Exchange of views with the participation of VP Guillaume, responsible for transparency issues 17.06.2015 Exchange of views with the participation of Latvian Presidency 01.07.2015 Event by […]
Transparency report: Conservatives want to harm civil society and protect intransparent lobbyism
On Thursday the Giegold-report on “Transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions” will be voted by the European Parliament, after a nearly unanimous vote in the constitutional affairs committee (AFCO). Today, the Conservative Group EPP has tabled a large number of amendments that would weaken the report in many respects. The rapporteur and economic […]
EU lobby transparency: Vote on report “Transparency, Accountability and Integrity in the EU Institutions” in Strasbourg Thursday, next week
EU lobby transparency: Vote on report “Transparency, Accountability and Integrity in the EU Institutions” in Strasbourg Thursday, next week Yesterday, the Secretary Generals of the political Groups in the European Parliament put my report “Transparency, Accountability and Integrity in the EU Institutions” on the draft agenda for the Parliament session in Strasbourg next week. […]
New Code of Conduct: Commission may not choose its own judges
During today’s Commission meeting, President Juncker presented his suggestions for a reform of the Commission’s Code of Conduct. The public outcry over former Commission President Barroso’s changeover to Goldman Sachs had triggered this discussion to reform Commission’s integrity rules. Juncker proposed to prolong the cooling-off time from 18 to 24 months for Commissioners and to […]