Metsola \u201chas failed to take the necessary measures to break away from the opacity that enables such practices\u201d that underpinned Qatargate and are at play in the new Huawei bribery allegations, said Manon Aubry, co-chair of The Left group. <\/p>\n
Lor\u00e1nt Vincze, the EPP\u2019s chief lawmaker in the constitutional affairs committee, on Thursday rejected the connection between the new bribery investigation and the ethics body. \u201cNo law or ethics body will ever be enough to prevent all irregular or even criminal activity,\u201d he said, adding that about 85 percent of EPP members rejected the ethics body upon its creation.<\/p>\n
Instead, Vincze pointed the finger at Belgian authorities: \u201cIt is concerning that Qatargate has so far led to no indictments of MEPs, while a new Belgian investigation has recently been leaked, further tarnishing the reputation of the European Parliament.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI call for greater professionalism from the Belgian authorities, especially when their statements impact the European Parliament as an institution,\u201d Vincze said.<\/p>\n But other lawmakers called for tougher transparency requirements, including the final implementation of the ethics body.<\/p>\n \u201cThis new corruption scandal once again exposes the failures of European institutions in ensuring the integrity of European representatives and the protection of democracy,\u201d Aubry said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/13\/GettyImages-2204300422-1024x683.jpg\")