STOP CORRUPTION
February 26, 2010 12:00 AM
North East Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall is calling on the European Commission to step up its fight against corruption across the EU.
A founding member of European Parliament cross-party initiative STOP CORRUPTION, Fiona has signed a Written Declaration in the European Parliament demanding a comprehensive European anti-corruption policy and adequate monitoring systems in Member States to ensure that EU funds are not subject to corruption.
Said Fiona:
"Corruption is not just something that happens in developing countries, it is a real issue in European countries as well. The EU must play a bigger role in helping member states to fight corruption.
"In particular, EU funds must be spent in an honest and transparent way with adequate national accounting. It is weaknesses at a national level, not at the European level, which have led to the auditors having problems with signing off the EU's accounts."
A recent Eurobarometer survey has found that 78% of EU citizens think that corruption is a major concern in their country, with one third agreeing that the EU helps to reduce corruption in their country.
Added Fiona:
"We need a comprehensive anti-corruption policy that will enable European institutions to safeguard EU funds and support national institutions in their battle against corruption."
In the UK, there has been a nine percent increase in those that consider corruption to be a national problem (from 65% to 73%) between 2007 and 2009. In March, the House of Commons will debate the so-called Bribery Bill that is meant to replace the old and fragmented legislation with a modern and consolidated bribery law, compliant with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
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