The heads of State and Government of the Twenty-seven have asked the president of the Eurochamber this Thursday, Roberta Metsolaa strong hand against corruption in order to regain public confidence after the outbreak of the Qatargate scandal. European leaders have distanced themselves with this bribery schemewhich circumscribe a problem limited exclusively to the European Parliament.
In his traditional speech at the start of the European Council, Metsola has barely dedicated a few lines to Qatargate and has devoted most of his speech to issues such as the war in Ukraine or the energy crisis. Contrary to what is usual, a dozen heads of government have taken the floor to respond by expressing their concern about the impact of the scandal on the credibility of the EU institutions.
At the end of the debate, the President of the European Council, Charles-Michel, has also spoken to express his full confidence in the ongoing judicial investigation. On behalf of the European leaders, Michel has conveyed to Metsola his “full support” so that carry out all the necessary reforms to improve the functioning of the Eurochamberas explained by diplomatic sources.
[La Justicia deja en prisión a la exvicepresidenta de la Eurocámara implicada en el Qatargate]
“The scenario is objectively worrying. It is news that we would never have imagined. In the face of events of this type, what matters most is the reaction. And the reaction must be firm, decisive, one must go to the end, without sparing anything.. The credibility of our Union and our nations is at stake and we will ask that all the light be shed on what is happening,” said Prime Minister Italy, Giorgia Meloni.
“It is good that there is transparency and exemplarity. You have to do things in order: know the facts, know who is involved and take appropriate action. The competent institutions will adopt the necessary decisions based on the facts”, maintains the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, during the press conference this Thursday
“The European Parliament must be a model for the rest of the world. Procedures must be tightened so that such scandalous behaviors do not happen again”, said the Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, in an interview with Euronews. Like its Hungarian counterpart Viktor OrbanMorawiecki has taken advantage of the scandal to get even with an institution that has often criticized the authoritarian drift of his government.
“It is important that this is looked at very carefully. I don’t think the whole Parliament can be blamed for the actions of one person,” argues Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
“It takes years to build trust, but only a moment to destroy it”, admits Metsola. “My message is that there will be no impunity, we will not sweep the garbage under the rug, things will not go on as usual. I will do everything I can to restore the position of the House of Democracy,” said the president of the Eurochamber.
In fact, the plenary session of the European Parliament approved this Thursday Ban access to all Qatari diplomats until scandal is cleared up. In a Qatargate resolution, MEPs support extending lobbying registration to all representatives of non-EU countries. The European Parliament will create a special commission of investigation into the bribery plot and supports the launch of an independent ethics body with executive powers.
