The N-VA opposes the new EU ethics body: “Unacceptable on principle”

The N-VA group in the European Parliament, through its delegation head Geert Bourgeois, opposes the setting up of an “interinstitutional ethics body” for EU institutions. “It is unacceptable for members of the executive branch to oversee the legislative branch.”

Under the proposal, the European Parliament will subject its members to a joint body of the executive and legislative powers, physically housed in the European Commission (!), which will impose standards of ethical conduct. The N-VA cannot accept that proposal because it conflicts with the independence of parliament and the freedom of the MEPs’ mandate.

The world turned upside down

In addition, the ethics body will be supported by experts jointly appointed by and administratively affiliated with the European Commission. These experts are given investigative powers. “That is the world turned upside down: parliament is supposed to oversee the executive power. A parliament that respects itself will not allow this,” says Bourgeois.

Unacceptable on principle

“The European Parliament already has strict rules on integrity and transparency, which were rightly tightened recently. The internal supervision of those rules must certainly be strengthened, but the separation of powers must be safeguarded. It is unacceptable on principle for a parliament to allow an institution containing members of the executive power to oversee the legislative power with external parties and determine the rules that MEPs must comply with,” Geert Bourgeois concludes.