Editing European Parliament (section)

== Corruption scandals ==
===Qatar related===
{{Main|Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament}}
On 12 December 2022, President Metsola announced that all work with Qatar would be suspended.<ref name="EA">{{cite news |date=12 December 2022 |title=EU Parliament suspends work with Qatar as MEPs demand corruption probe |newspaper=[[EurActiv]] |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-parliament-suspends-work-with-qatar-as-meps-demand-corruption-probe/|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref>

A [[European Union]] correspondent, Jack Parrock confirmed on the basis of close sources to Qatar that the UAE was involved in plotting the corruption scandal. Parrock said the official investigations, leaked documents and a number of European sources have confirmed the Emirati involvement in planning the alleged bribery case against Qatar. In a separate report by The European Microscope, documents revealed that the UAE made extensive efforts to woo multiple members of the European Parliament. Abu Dhabi intensified the lobbying campaign to build its support within the European Parliament and to push its members to speak in favour of the Emirates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://emiratesleaks.com/2022/12/revealed-uae-involved-in-the-so-called-qatar-corruption-scandal-in-the-eu/?lang=en|title=Revealed: UAE involved in the so-called Qatar corruption scandal in the EU|access-date=14 December 2022|website=Emirati Leaks|date=14 December 2022|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://emiratesleaks.com/2022/12/revealed-uae-involved-in-the-so-called-qatar-corruption-scandal-in-the-eu/?lang=en|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |user=jackeparrock |number=1602966494450778113 |date=14 December 2022 |title=Breaking: Confirmed sources close to power #Qatar have told me that in the government in Doha, 'everyone believes the #UAE is behind it [hatching a conspiracy]', in relation to the escalating corruption scandal engulfing the European Parliament. #Kaili #QatarGate |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.watanserb.com/2022/12/14/مصادر-حكومية-قطرية-تؤكد-وقوف-الإمارات/ |title=مصادر حكومية قطرية تؤكد وقوف الإمارات وراء مؤامرة ضدها في البرلمان الأوروبي |trans-title=Qatari government sources confirm that the UAE is behind a plot against it in the European Parliament |date=14 December 2022 |first1=Salem Muhammad |last1=Hanafi |newspaper=[[Watan (newspaper)|Watan]] |language=ar}}</ref> After Qatari officials, an Italian web publisher, Dagospia alleged that the UAE's plan against Qatar involved Tahnoun bin Zayed. It is alleged that the brother of UAE President [[Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] gave Belgium the tips that lead to the investigations against Qatar.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dagospia.com/rubrica-29/cronache/emiri-contro-ndash-ogni-giorno-che-passa-prende-sempre-piu-corpo-336537.htm |title=Emiri Contro – Ogni Giorno Che Passa, Prende Sempre Più Corpo L'ipotesi Che Dietro Al Qatargate Ci Sia La Manona Degli Emirati Arabi Uniti. Un'ipotesi Ormai Ventilata Apertamente Da Doha - A Fornire La "Soffiata" Al Belgio Sarebbe Stato Tahnoun Bin Zayed Mohammed Al Nahyan, Fratello Del Presidente Emiratino, Mohamed Bin Zayed – Tahnoun, Consigliere Per La Sicurezza Nazionale, È Il Capo Dei Servizi Emiratini, E Recentemente Si È Parlato Di Lui Per Una Tentata Operazione In Israele: Voleva Comprare Il Colosso Assicurativo "Phoenix Group", Ma... |trans-title=Emirs against – Every day that passes, the hypothesis that the Manona of the United Arab Emirates is behind the Qatargate is gaining more and more traction. A hypothesis now openly aired by Doha - Tahnoun Bin Zayed Mohammed Al Nahyan, brother of the UAE president, would have provided the "tip" to Belgium - Tahnoun, national security adviser, is the head of the UAE services, And Recently There Was Talk Of Him For An Attempted Operation In Israel: He Wanted To Buy The Insurance Giant "Phoenix Group", But...  |website=Dagospia |date=21 December 2022 }} [https://dagospia.com/la-strategia-degli-emiri-per-il-qatargate-negare-tutto-e-urlare-al-complotto-336537 mobile url]</ref>

At the same meeting the [[Greens–European Free Alliance]] and [[Renew Europe]] both called for an inquiry committee to be set up by the European Parliament.{{r|EA}} The suspension of Parliamentary business at this time was significant as it came just three days before the Parliament was due to vote on introducing a [[Travel visa|visa-free travel]] agreement with Qatar and other countries.{{r|EA}} This resulted in the vote on visa-free travel to Ecuador, Kuwait, and Oman also being canceled.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 December 2022 |title=EU Parliament Postpones Voting on Schengen Visa Exemption for Ecuador |url=https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-parliament-postpones-voting-on-schengen-visa-exemption-for-ecuador/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=Schengen Visa Info}}</ref> In addition, a major and controversial [[Air transport agreement|air transit agreement]] that would have allowed [[Qatar Airways]] unlimited access to the EU market was put on hold after warning that Qatar may have interfered in Parliament's internal deliberations on the agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-13 |title=Scandal pushes MEPs to review Qatar Airways' access deal with EU |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/scandal-european-parliament-qatar-airways/ |access-date=|website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref> During the negotiations there was criticism by EU member states that the agreement, negotiated by the Parliament's [[European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism|transport committee]], was unduly favourable of Qatar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-05 |title=Troubled skies over attempt to protect EU's aviation industry |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/troubled-skies-over-attempt-to-protect-eus-aviation-industry/ |access-date=|website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref>

On 16 December 2022, an article published by Politico, elucidate the connection between [[Antonio Panzeri]] and Abderrahim Atmoun. Panzeri, a former Italian member of the European Parliament who headed the assembly of Maghreb delegation and Abderrahim Atmoun, and his co-president of the EU-Morocco joint parliamentary committee attended an award ceremony in 2014 where they were awarded by the king [[Mohammed VI of Morocco]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-30 |title=Décoration de plusieurs personnalités de Ouissams royaux à l'occasion de la Fête du Trône |url=https://www.maroc.ma/fr/activites-royales/decoration-de-plusieurs-personnalites-de-ouissams-royaux-loccasion-de-la-fete-du |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=Maroc.ma |language=fr}}</ref> Atmoun, now Morocco's ambassador to Warsaw posted some pictures from the ceremony with the king and also posted the series of pictures showcasing the long-term association between him and Panzeri{{snd}} a man whom he publicly claims as his friend from as long as 2011. The later pictures also involved Francesco Giorgi where three of them can be seen sitting together in the meeting room. Later in 2022, the three men caught in the biggest corruption scandal as Belgium launches an investigation into whether Qatar and Morocco bought the influence in the European Parliament. Panzeri and Giorgi, along with his partner [[Eva Kaili]] are in jail facing preliminary charges of corruption. Warrants were also issued against Panzeri's wife and daughter in connection with influence buying which mentions the Atmoun giving gifts to them. The lawyers have declined to comment and Morocco's embassies in Warsaw and Brussel are not responding to calls. Panzeri's wife and daughter also denied any wrongdoings.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-16 |title=EU Parliament scandal: The Morocco connection |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/qatargate-antonio-panzeri-francesco-giogrio-eu-parliament-scandal-the-morocco-connection/ |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=Politico |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-13 |title=The 'giant' and the Moroccan envoy tied to the EU Parliament scandal |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/qatargate-giant-moroccan-envoy-alleged-scandal-corruption-eu-parliament-antonio-panzeri/ |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=Politico |language=en-US}}</ref>

President of the European Parliament [[Roberta Metsola]] issued a statement in January 2023 stating that she had moved to remove parliamentary immunity from two [[Member of the European Parliament|MEPs]] implicated in the ongoing corruption scandal after receiving a request from the Belgian police.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-02 |title=More MEPs could lose immunity in corruption probe, president says |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64146807 |access-date=2023-01-03}}</ref>

===Other===
A January 2024 report published by investigative outlet ''Follow the Money'' found that 1 in 4 EU lawmakers have been implicated in judicial cases or scandals. Out of 253 cases highlighted in the report, only 23 have resulted in convictions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Almost 1 in 4 EU lawmakers involved in scandals |url=https://www.ftm.eu/articles/european-parliamentarians-involved-in-hundreds-of-scandals |website=Follow The Money |access-date=17 October 2024}}</ref>

There are also ongoing concerns related to allegations that members of the European Parliament were illegally or unethically influenced by Russia. Such concerns have been raised several times in 2023 and 2024 and dubbed "Russiagate".<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Pedro |last1=Marques |first2=Gabriele |last2=Bischoff |first3=Andreas |last3=Schieder |first4=Raphaël |last4=Glucksmann |first5=Tonino |last5=Picula |first6=Domènec |last6=Ruiz Devesa |title=Motion for a resolution on Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union |id=B9-0125/2024  |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2024-0125_EN.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=European Parliament |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-05 |title=Cs Asked Metsola That The European Parliament Investigate Puigdemont For Russian Espionage |url=https://worldnationnews.com/cs-asked-metsola-that-the-european-parliament-will-investigate-puigdemont-for-russian-espionage/ |website=World Nation  |access-date=2024-02-09 |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207014901/https://worldnationnews.com/cs-asked-metsola-that-the-european-parliament-will-investigate-puigdemont-for-russian-espionage/ |archive-date= Feb 7, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-30 |title=Latvian member of European Parliament accused of spying officially under investigation |url=https://news.yahoo.com/latvian-member-european-parliament-accused-074420015.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref>

Panzeri's lobbying group, Fight Impunity, was largely funded by [[Iqbal Survé]], a controversial South African billionaire. Survé's [[Sekunjalo Investments|Sekunjalo Development Foundation]] was found to be the "most important donor" having donated €250,000 to the group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Tim |date=2022-12-21 |title=Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo Development Foundation linked to EU scandal |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-21-iqbal-surves-sekunjalo-development-foundation-linked-to-organisation-at-centre-of-eu-corruption-scandal/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brussels to question ex-commissioner over Qatar scandal |url=https://www.ft.com/content/23f27ce6-b12e-4426-aea7-36c1b58cee76 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.ft.com}}</ref>

===Anti-corruption policies===
The European Parliament has had criticism over its prodigality and for being too complacent with conflicts of interest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-22 |title=Le Parlement européen terni par une affaire de corruption |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2011/03/22/01003-20110322ARTFIG00778-le-parlement-europeen-terni-par-une-affaire-de-corruption.php |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title=EU Influence: Shrugging off oversight — Uber crunch — Stellantis skips lobbying |url=https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/politico-eu-influence/shrugging-off-oversight-uber-crunch-stellantis-skips-lobbying-2/ |first1=    Sarah |last1=Wheaton |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> Its refusal to become full member of the [[Group of States against Corruption|GRECO]] like all its member states is also a matter of criticism.<ref name=":0" />