The recent corruption scandal involving Huawei once again highlights the vulnerability of the European Parliament to external influences and reveals concerning flaws in the transparency and lobbying control mechanisms.
In response, The Left in the European Parliament is calling for the creation of an inquiry committee to investigate these dysfunctions and propose solutions to safeguard the integrity of our democratic institutions. This initiative reflects a strong commitment to restoring citizens’ trust in European institutions, emphasising transparency, public integrity, and addressing the growing distrust towards political elites.It also responds to the recent attempt by the EPP and far-right groups against the establishment of a EU ethics body, an action that undermines the principles of political integrity and accountability.
This scandal brings to mind the “Qatargate” scandal, which exposed significant flaws within the European Parliament. Despite multiple warnings and repeated proposals from The Left to enhance controls and transparency, the EU has failed to learn from this experience. As such, the proposed investigative committee is a crucial response to the continued inaction in the face of persistent corruption.
Left MEP Anthony Smith (La France Insoumise, France) Vice-chair of the anti-corruption intergroup in the European Parliament said: “The Huawei scandal exposes once again the vulnerability of our European institutions to lobbying. After the Qatargate, it is clear that the European Parliament has learned nothing. An inquiry committee is essential to examine these allegations, assess their impact on our political decisions, and identify the flaws in our transparency and control systems. It is imperative to strengthen our rules to prevent such practices from happening again. Those who oppose this inquiry committee will have to explain why they refuse to fight corruption.”
Given the seriousness of the accusations, it is crucial to act decisively to safeguard the independence and integrity of our institutions. The Left will always be on the front lines in the fight against all forms of corruption.