Corruption in the European Union (EU) Parliament and institutions is an issue that has been around since the establishment of the EU. It has taken on various forms over the years, ranging from financial irregularities to the misuse of power and influence. The most recent scandal, Qatargate, is just the latest in a long line of such corruption cases in the EU.
Recently, the European Commission has been rocked by several large–scale corruption scandals. From the suspension of a senior official due to financial irregularities, to two senior members of the Commission being indicted for embezzlement and fraud. It appears that corruption is a serious problem within the European Union. While the QatarGate scandal may appear small in comparison, it is essential that news outlets concentrate their efforts on addressing the bigger issues of corruption rather than this minor incident.
However, the Qatargate scandal is only the beginning of the problem regarding corruption in the EU Parliament and institutions. For many years, the EU has been plagued by allegations of nepotism, cronyism, and other forms of corruption such as Eugate, Moroccogate etc.
European Parliament Corruption Scandal
In particular, the European Commission has been caught up in several corruption scandals. In 2017, the Commission was forced to suspend the appointment of a senior official after allegations of financial irregularities were uncovered.
In 2020, two senior members of the European Commission were indicted on charges of embezzlement and fraud. The issue of corruption in the EU is not limited to the European Commission. Members of the European Parliament have also been implicated in corruption.
In 2019, for example, a former member of the European Parliament was found guilty of receiving bribes and misappropriating funds. Similarly, in 2020, a former member of the European Parliament was charged with fraud and misappropriation of funds.
The fact that corruption in the EU Parliament and institutions is older and more profound than in Qatargate illustrates the need for greater oversight and enforcement of EU regulations.
In particular, the European Commission needs to take a more proactive approach to fight corruption and to ensure that EU funds are correctly managed and accounted for. Similarly, the European Parliament must ensure that members are held accountable for any misconduct or illegal activities. Only then can the EU be genuinely effective in its fight against corruption.
Which European Union Countries Have The Highest Prevalence of Corruption Cases?
Greece topped the list of EU Member States in regards to involvement in corruption cases, with 114 cases registered in the EU justice agency between 2016 and 2021. Germany and Romania followed, with 99 and 88 cases, respectively. Additionally, Greece had the highest rate of citizens perceiving corruption among all EU nations.
Conclusion
European corruption in the EU Parliament and institutions is a deep-rooted issue that has been prevalent for many years. Despite the recent revelations of the Qatargate scandal, which saw several EU politicians accepting bribes from the Qatari government, this is only the beginning. The EU Parliament has been plagued by corruption and unethical behaviour for decades, with numerous scandals and corruption cases exposed over the years. From the acceptance of bribes to nepotism, abuse of power, and fraud, the EU Parliament and institutions have a lot of work to do to regain the trust of their citizens.
