Mixed message on transparency after Parliament votes

EU officials will no longer be able to refuse to disclose information to the European Ombudsman on secrecy grounds if changes proposed yesterday (22 April) by the European Parliament are accepted by the Council.

But MEPs also chose not to publish a report from Parliament’s auditors which indicated that some members are using funds allocated for staff payments to make personal contributions to their pension funds. 

Members also decided not to make public the names of the MEPs who contribute to the Parliament’s voluntary pension fund – decisions described as “shameful” by UK Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies. 

The Parliament currently pays €27,720 into MEPs’ pension funds on an annual basis, topped up by private contributions of €13,860 by the members themselves, according to Davies. 

But a “significant number of MEPs” are using other Parliament funding meant for their “parliamentary duties” to contribute to their personal contributions, he alleges – which for him qualifies as “embezzlement” and brings “shame and dishonour” on the Parliament. 

“Far from cleaning up their act, a majority of MEPs seem intent on allowing greed and self-interest to triumph over the proper financial management of public money,” Davies added. 

Meanwhile, in adopting a report drafted by Finnish MEP Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE) and approved by Parliament’s committee on constitutional affairs last month (EURACTIV 12/03/08), MEPs opted to amend the Ombudsman’s statute to improve his access to EU documents. The proposals were passed by a majority of 620 votes to 18. 

The plenary vote was delayed last week following “political manoeuvrings” by the centre-right EPP-ED Group and the centre-left Socialist Group, according to Jäätteenmäki (EURACTIV 16/04/08). “If the two largest political groups oppose enhanced transparency arrangements it must be because they have something to hide,” she said at the time. 

MEPs voted to delete a provision allowing officials to refuse to disclose certain information on secrecy grounds. But the report also requires the Ombudsman “not to divulge any sensitive information or any document falling under the scope of Community legislation regarding the protection of personal data” while handling classified information during the course of his enquiries. 

Stressing the importance for EU citizens that the Ombudsman’s independence is “guaranteed”, Jäätteenmäki said the ALDE Group is “particularly happy” with a provision that was adopted to allow him to consult classified documents during his investigations “under condition of confidentiality”. 

The Ombudsman himself, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, said the changes will help him improve the service he provides to citizens and “strengthen their trust in the European Union and its institutions”. 

Jäätteenmäki said she hoped the modifications to the Ombudsman’s statute would be approved by the Council before the end of the Slovenian EU Presidency. 

Read more with Euractiv

EU Parliament under fire for 'lack of transparency'

European Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros insisted that the EU institutions become more transparent after demands to strenghten his access to confidential documents were delayed by the two main political groups in the European Parliament.