(KUNA) -- Leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament (EP) together with the EP President Jerzy Buzek Thursday approved a new Code of Conduct for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
The Code sets out rules and principles which MEPs will need to follow in their contacts with outside interests and to avoid conflicts of interest, noted an EP statement.
The move comes after reports on a series of financial scandals involving a number of MEPs.
MEPs will now have to provide clear declarations of their paid activities outside Parliament and their remuneration, as well as of other functions which might constitute a conflict of interest.
The code also contains an explicit ban on receiving payments or other rewards in exchange for influencing parliamentary decisions.
There are clear rules on the acceptance of gifts and on the position of former MEPs working as lobbyists. |