MEPs debated today proposals for the revision of the Commissioners’ declarations of interests and the Code of Conduct that Commissioners must follow.

Currently the Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament (JURI) is in charge of scrutinising the declaration of financial interests of a Commissioner-designate.

However the current scope of Commissioners’ declarations of interests is too limited and their explanatory content too ambiguous making the work of the committee more difficult.

Supporting the proposals, GUE/NGL MEP Kostas Chrysogonos said that the revision is necessary to ensure that Commissioners are able to fulfil their mandates independently and to ensure maximum transparency and accountability on the part of the Commission:

“The central premise of the proposals being debated is that the Commissioners’ declarations of interests should be more thorough and rigorous. This is absolutely necessary to protect the credibility of the EU.”

“This issue is especially important after a series of incidents, such as the appointment of former Commission President Barroso to a key post in the banking sector, that show the possibility of conflicts of interests between public servants and the private sector.”

“It has become evident that the Committee on Legal Affairs in the European Parliament (JURI) should be granted more powers to scrutinise appointments,” the Greek MEP concluded.