Corruption scandal: EU Parliament chief vows to review laws and trips in search for undue influence

euronews.com:

The European Parliament will review undeclared trips from lawmakers and pieces of legislation that might have been unduly influenced as a result of the alleged cash-for-favours scheme that has unleashed a political storm across Brussels and beyond, President Roberta Metsola has said.

"We're looking into everything," Metsola told Euronews on Thursday afternoon.

"We're looking into trips that have been approved, we're looking into trips that were not declared. We're looking at the process of putting forward amendments, timelines, the way resolutions are negotiated."

The investigation launched by Belgian authorities has shone a light on past legislative work, including a committee vote in early December that approved visa liberalisation for Qatar and Kuwait, as well as an array of paid-for visits of multiple European lawmakers to the Gulf region.

Alarms bells on possible "spheres of influence," Metsola noted, "should start to ring earlier."

"We also need to be (more) aware ourselves," the president said. "And this what I will tell all the members (of the European Parliament) and the staff members: if they see something that is not right, something has to be said and something has to be done."

Almost a month since the corruption scandal erupted, Brussels continues to deal with the shockwaves from the illicit lobbying allegedly conducted by Qatar in conjunction with a network of at least four individuals, including Greek MEP Eva Kaili and her life partner Francesco Giorgi.

The latest revelations have considerably expanded the scope of the investigation, potentially involving two additional MEPs from the socialist group – Marc Tarabella and Andrea Cozzolino – as well as intelligence and diplomatic officials from Morocco.

Both Qatar