PES Manifesto

Lessons from the European Parliament scandal

Publié lundi 25 février 2008 à 11h33
par Thomas Lefebvre (vu 680 fois et 1 commentaires)

The current scandal over alleged misuses of MEP expenses raises key questions for the next PES. The dealing of the scandal has been, so far, a PR disaster for the EP, especially when Pöttering reportedly said: “we want reform but we cannot make this report available to the public if we want people to vote in the European elections next year.” Pöttering is making a big mistake here: it is, on the contrary, the absence of transparency that is fuelling populist and anti-EP commentaries. For instance, the lack of access to the report already lead to cheap eurosceptic articles, on the ‘gravy trains theme’, as highlighted by Jon Worth.

However, there is an opportunity to be taken: the PES could capitalize on the crisis by introducing transparency for MEPs expenses, as it is the case within the House of Commons, in its manifesto. The PES should also pledge to introduce a common status for MEPs assistants who deserve better working rights. Finally, the PES needs to pledge that PES MEPs who misuse their expenses are going to be excluded from the group.

These proposals would put the PES at the forefront of democracy and accountability. It would portray the PES as a modern party which can only help for wining next year elections.

Tags: démocratie, élections, transparence, UE