Von Der Leyen Calls For New Ethics Watchdog After Massive EU Corruption Claims
Ursula von der Leyen has insisted the arrests at the top of the European Parliament are of the “utmost concern“.
This afternoon von der Leyen called on Brussels to immediately establish a new ethics watchdog after investigations uncovered jaw-dropping evidence of bribery and corruption from its lawmakers.
According to reports, four EU officials – including European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili – have been charged with “participation in a criminal organisation” after accepting life-changing bribes from the Qatari government. Belgian police have seized cash worth €600,000 from the politicians’ apartments…
Reacting to the news that four of her EU colleagues had been coining it with the Qataris, von der Leyen said:
“The allegations are of utmost concern, very serious […] It is a question of confidence of people into our institutions and this confidence of trust into institutions needs the highest standards of independence and integrity…”
German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock added that “the credibility of Europe” is at stake. That’s putting it mildly…