Preventing conflicts of interest: is transparency enough? | European ...

The complaint against Dehaene and his stock options.

European Voice recently reported on MEP Jean-Luc Dehaene's revision of his declaration of financial interests to the European Parliament, in which he added stock options worth more than ?5.3 million in brewing company ABInbev (?Dehaene declares ?5.3m stock options?, 5-10 October).?

This followed a complaint from Friends of the Earth Europe, Corporate Europe Observatory, LobbyControl and Spinwatch concerning Dehaene, highlighting a possible conflict of interest.

According to the code of conduct set up by the European Parliament in January 2012, MEPs must declare all outside interests. This is meant to be the basis for proper checks and to help detect and avert any potential conflict of interest. Dehaene's declaration is to be welcomed; but it remains unclear whether or not the actual risk of a conflict of interest is being tackled by the new ethics rules.

A member of the European Parliament holding ? and being allowed to cash in ? stock options worth over ?5 million in the world's leading brewing company is no anecdotal link with the corporate sector. Article 3(1) of the code of conduct clarifies that ?a conflict of interest exists where a Member of the European Parliament has a personal interest that could improperly influence the performance of his or her duties as a Member?.

Parliamentary work involves voting on regulations affecting the food and drink industry, including the brewing sector. Therefore, it is likely that the MEP will find himself in situations where he will be regulating a sector in which he has direct financial interests.

Will he be allowed to vote on such matters? If so, what safeguards have been put in place to ensure that his outside interests will not take priority over the public interest?

This is a test case for President Martin Schulz and the bureau of the European Parliament, who are responsible for the implementation of the code.

Is the declaration of interest a mere paper exercise, or is it part of a proactive ethics policy that identifies and averts potential conflicts of interest before they materialise?

Natacha Cingotti Transparency Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Europe Brussels

? 2012 European Voice. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/preventing-conflicts-of-interest-is-transparency-enough-/75433.aspx

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