The European Parliament has opened an investigation following UK press reports yesterday that three MEPs had accepted cash in exchange for tabling amendments to legislation.

Following the scandal, Dutch MEP Dennis de Jong,  from the GUE/NGL group,  has called for urgent action to strengthen the code of conduct for MEPs regarding their relations with lobbyists.

"MEPs who take bribes should immediately be forced to step down," said MEP de Jong. "But it is also equally important to strengthen the code of conduct to prevent similar incidents happening in future. I will put forward some of my earlier suggestions for stronger rules again. "

The GUE/NGL MEP has been critical about the often  too-close connection between an estimated 15.000 lobbyists and MEPs. He said this latest scandal proves that Parliament's current rules are inadequate. They allow, for instance, MEPs to accept all gifts of any value, once they are recorded in the Parliament's register.

"I will, once again, propose that the Parliament bans MEPs from accepting gifts over 50 euros," concluded MEP de Jong, while stressing that the European Parliament can no longer avoid adopting a new and stronger code of conduct.

GUE/NGL PRESS

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
www.guengl.eu
Gauche Unitaire Européenne/Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group