Revealed: MEPs’ millions in outside earnings

euronews (in English)

Transparency International has called for stricter controls on EU lawmakers, as a report shows many hold lucrative positions with firms that also lobby Brussels.

Transcript

00:00 More than two-thirds of 705 MEPs have paid part-time jobs, from which they earn a total

00:09 of more than 8.6 million euros a year. New research published by Transparency International

00:15 assessed the finances of MEPs working second jobs.

00:23 Topping the list is a Lithuanian MP who declared 3 million euros per year working for a real

00:29 estate company. He is followed by a French and then a Hungarian politician, then by the

00:34 President of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber.

00:40 It is perfectly legal to have a side job as long as we are transparent about it. But obviously

00:44 when we look at the contents of the declarations that the MEPs have filled in, we do see some

00:50 activities that really raise some concerns. Activities for example involving a multinational

00:55 company while they themselves were in charge of drafting legislation that might affect

01:00 that company.

01:03 Transparency is not accusing any MEPs of breaking the rules. But the research underscores that

01:09 some MEPs are getting paid by companies in the same sector as a lot of their parliamentary

01:14 activity. Among those involved, Polish Marek Belka told Euronews that his supervisory board

01:19 meetings do not violate his obligations as an MEP.

01:25 Transparency says potential conflicts of interest must be investigated, especially given the

01:30 influence scandals that have taken place in Brussels in the past.

01:34 As we see today in the European elections, one of the key themes is about foreign interference.

01:39 And we know that theoretically, according to the rules today, you are perfectly allowed

01:43 to receive money maybe from a third country government or have an activity as long as

01:48 you are transparent about it. And so what we advocate is a banning of these side activities.

01:54 Stricter rules in European Parliament mean MEPs are now required to publish more detailed

01:58 information about their finances.

02:00 (whooshing)

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