Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
This afternoon, the first plenary session of the European Parliament, whose sessions are taking place this week in Strasbourg, is being held. With the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, who is from the Socialist and Democratic Party bloc, whose position in the Hellenic Socialist Party and in the European Parliament has been suspended.
An investigation into possible corruption in the European Parliament should be a "turning point". This was stated by the Belgian members of the European Parliament, Hilde Fottmans from the Liberal Party, and Sara Mathieu (the Greens) on Monday morning in the radio program "VRT Al-Sabah. They expressed their shock at what was announced." We need to get to the truth. We need to find out which MPs are involved. Their immunity should be lifted and criminal proceedings initiated,” Fotmans said.
In addition, according to MPs, stricter controls should be implemented. For example, Mathieu advocates for the speedy creation of an independent parliamentary oversight body that can impose stricter sanctions and transparency rules for meetings with lobbyists. "The lobbies" "We need to fix the system so that something like this doesn't happen again," says Mathieu.
The image of the European Parliament was greatly damaged. Mathieu fears that "this risks irreparably undermining the European Parliament's authority as a defender of human rights and the fight against corruption". For example, Parliament was a strong advocate of a tough approach to Hungary. "How do you want us to say to (Hungarian Prime Minister) Viktor Orban next week: 'You won't receive more money from the European Parliament because you don't fight corruption enough' if we have such a scandal in our house?"
Members of the European Parliament meet today as planned in Strasbourg. For the first time, current political events will not be at the top of the agenda. Rather, the file involved the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group in an unprecedented scandal. Last Friday, the Greek Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, who usually enjoys parliamentary immunity, was arrested, but she was caught in the act of carrying a bag full of securities, which led to her arrest. She and three others were charged with belonging to a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption. She is said to have been bribed by Qatar, which is currently hosting the World Cup, to influence decisions in parliament and promote a positive image of Qatar. According to Belgian media
Her colleagues are angry. "This is terrible and dramatic for the reputation of Parliament," says Kathleen van Brempet, MEP for the Belgian Onward Party and Kylie's colleague on the group. She was also in-depth on the now circulating photos of Kaili, in which the Greeks brag about human rights in Qatar. “It's easy, of course, to speak in hindsight. But Kylie doesn't really care about human rights in Parliament at all. So you can ask yourself why I'm suddenly talking about Qatar,” says Van Brempt. Meanwhile, Kylie is kicked out of her group and removed as Vice President.
But the scandal isn't limited to Kylie alone. Parliamentary aide to the Social Democrats and Kylie's partner, arrested. That aide worked for the former Italian deputy, Antonio Panzeri. Funds were found at his home for €600,000 in cash. According to Italian media, his wife and daughter were arrested in Italy, following a European arrest warrant. Panziri will be seen by investigators as a key figure.
The scandal also has a Belgian branch, the office of one of the Mary Arena employees was closed. Belgian in the European Parliament for the Socialist Party. The office of one of the employees of the Socialist parliamentarian Marc Tarabella (PS) was also closed. But on Saturday night, investigators raided Trabella's own office.
In light of the ongoing judicial investigations by the Belgian authorities, the President of the European Parliament has decided to immediately suspend all powers, duties and activities entrusted to Eva Kaili in her capacity as Vice-President of the European Parliament. According to the Belgian media, Saturday.
The strange thing is that these events were announced last Friday, the day a statement was issued by the European Commission on the occasion of the International Day against Corruption, and the Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said in the statement:
“Fighting corruption requires commitment, stamina and determination. The EU has everything it takes and delivers. To be honest, we need to start from within. The EU has put in place a strong rule of law mechanism, where the fight against corruption is very prominent and is properly monitored in all countries Members We have created a new conditional mechanism for the rule of law, where no EU money is given to those corrupt who break the rules….