Activities of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ related to 2020/2133(INI)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on strengthening transparency and integrity in the EU institutions by setting up an independent EU ethics body
Amendments (9)
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the European institutions have a fragmented approach to the prevention of conflicts of interest and that each institution applies its own rules; considers that the establishment of a new ethics body could contribute to a harmonised interpretation of existing rules and to strengthening their implementation;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes that the European Parliament has established the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members as the body responsible for giving Members guidance on the interpretation and implementation of the Code of Conduct; it also assesses alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct and advises the President on possible action to be taken;
Amendment 42 #
6. Considers that for proper expertise to be acquired, the future ethics body should have a permanent, independent and collegiate structure, and that its composition could be based either on specific institutional positions, such as that of the President of the Court of Justice, or on the nomination of experts by each EU institution; considers that the members of the college must offer guarantees in terms of independence, impartiality, integrity, probity and experience;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recommends therefore that, while fully keeping its competence on the matter, the Committee on Legal Affairs decide on the existence of a conflict of interest after having received a non-binding recommendation by such an independent expert advisory body, which would have the effect of strengthening its action;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes furthermore that this future advisory body could also be entrusted with thea broader task ofsupport role in order to examininge conflicts of interest within the EU institutions and agencies in general, including for Members of the European Parliament and senior officials, playing, in a complementary and balanced way, a preventive role via awareness raising and ethical guidance powers on the one hand, and a compliance role on the other.
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers that the examination of conflicts of interest should be carried out on taking up a post, during the performance of the duties involved and on leaving a post; is of the opinion that such an examination should include the checking of statements made and compliance with the rules on transparency and lobbying the European institutions;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Considers that an institutional culture based on prevention, support and transparency requires close cooperation with the various bodies and institutions subject to oversight; considers that, in due course, internal administrative services responsible for ethical issues could be replaced by contact points responsible for relations with the European ethics body;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Considers that such a body should have investigative powers, as well as the power to request and have access to administrative documents;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Considers that the consultation, prevention and support tasks of the future ethics body could be accompanied by the possibility of sanctions in order to ensure that its recommendations are followed up; considers that the publication or forwarding of recommendations and opinions could constitute a form of sanction in itself; stresses that such a body should not replace the CJEU;