07/04/2025
A few weeks ago, a new corruption scandal, this time involving the Chinese technology giant Huawei, once again rocked the European Parliament and brought to light dubious lobbying practices, such as lavish gifts and free trips, offered in exchange for preferential treatment.
In his latest article for Verfassungsblog, Professor Alberto Alemanno, founder of The Good Lobby, analyses the persistent failings of the European Parliament’s public integrity system in the light of this latest scandal. After more than two decades of ethical scandals, including the resounding Qatargate, the European Union promised to reform its institutions to ensure the transparency and accountability of its members. One of the main proposals to emerge from these reforms was the creation of an inter-institutional body to oversee ethical standards within the European institutions. However, a year on from this announcement, this authority is still nowhere to be found, largely due to opposition from the most influential political group in the Parliament, the EPP, as well as far-right groups.
In a context where lobbying practices are often unclear, the absence of an independent authority to monitor and enforce ethical standards remains a problem. Although efforts have been made to strengthen the rules of conduct, structural failings remain evident, in particular the inability to enforce these rules effectively.
The article also raises an important question: could these integrity crises be an opportunity for the EU to adopt major reforms and meet the expectations of its citizens? At a time when the EU is struggling to win public support, these scandals could be an opportunity to boost transparency and trust.
If you would like to find out more about these crucial issues for the future of the European Union, read the full article here and find out how the current system could evolve in the face of these ongoing challenges.
Read the article
This is also the central topic of Professor Alemanno’s upcoming book, which provides a critical analysis of the existing “EU ethical framework” while contextualising it within the unique transnational framework that characterises the EU’s public administration and its various institutions.