Seven more MEPs register interests

Date: 28/02/02

By Martin Banks

SEVEN more MEPs have posted their financial interests on the Parliamentary website following a campaign for transparency spearheaded by European Voice.

They include five Austrian members of the European People's Party, who had previously refused to publish their details on the internet: Ursula Stenzel, Marialiese Flemming, Hubert Pirker, Paul Rubig and Agnes Schierhuber.

Two other deputies have also declared their interests: German EPP member Christa Klass and Portuguese Socialist Sérgio Sousa Pinto.

In most cases, the MEPs merely list membership of groups and associations.

Financial interests were posted on the internet for the first time in July last year. They are not immediately visible: the document detailing interests has to be downloaded first.

Previously, the public had only been able to view the declarations by consulting a central register - not available online - in Brussels or Strasbourg.

The posting of records on the internet is the culmination of years of work by reform-minded MEPs and was agreed as far back as October 1999.

All deputies in the Green and Liberal groups have their details posted. Campaigners say the posting of financial interests is crucial for public confidence and to ensure that MEPs do not have a conflict of interest.

Leaders of the three main political groups in the Parliament have welcomed the European Voice campaign and urged the 19 'refuseniks' to go online.

The Liberal leader, Graham Watson, said: 'Elected office of any sort does carry some sacrifices and responsibilities.

'It is no use the European Parliament calling for more accountability in the Commission and Council of Ministers if it can't get its own house in order.'

Fellow Liberal Nick Clegg added: 'It is shocking at a time when the European Parliament is trying to demonstrate that it is whiter-than-white that some deputies are still refusing to publish their financial interests.'

Enrique Barón, chairman of the Group of European Socialists, said he too welcomed the campaign: 'I've always been in favour of MEPs declaring their interests online, and this applies to when I was an MP in Spain.'

Hans Gert Pöttering, leader of the European People's Party (EPP), Parliament's biggest political group, said: 'I applaud your transparency campaign but, of course, at the end of the day it is up to individual members to decide if they want to publish their financial interests on the internet.'

The 19 still withholding details are:

EPP-ED group: Michl Ebner (I), Werner Langen (D), Peter Michael Mombaur (D), Doris Pack (D), Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl (D), Brice Hortefeux (F), Karsten Knolle (D), Christoph Werner Konrad (D), Kurt Lechner (D), Francesco Musutto (I).

Socialists: Karin Junker (D), Christa Prets (A). Union for Europe of the Nations: Christiana Muscardini (I), Jean-Charles Marchiani (F). Europe for Democracies and Diversities: Veronique Mathieu (F), Jean-Louis Bernie (F). Independents/non-attached: Gian Paolo Gobbo (I), Carl Lang (F), Peter Sichrovsky (A).

A: Austria; D: Germany; DK: Denmark;

F: France; GR: Greece; I: Italy; P: Portugal;

List compiled 26 February.

• MEPs who want to inform the Parliamentary website about their interests at www.europarl.eu.int can also register them with European Voice by fax on 32/2 540 9071 or by email on info@europeanvoice.com.

Seven more MEPs have posted their financial interests on the European Parliament's website following a campaign for transparency spearheaded by European Voice.