15 MEPs defy online EV transparency campaign

Date: 24/04/03

By Martin Banks

FIFTEEN MEPs have defied calls to openly declare their financial interests on the European Parliament website.

Germany and France lead the 'rebel' pack with five objectors each, Italy three and Austria two.

European Voice launched a campaign in June 2001, backing calls for every MEP to make a full financial disclosure in the interests of transparency and public confidence. Some 25 former refuseniks subsequently registered their interests online.

Each of those defying the call were invited by this newspaper to provide an explanation. Several pointed out that the public can access details of their financial interests via a central register held in Brussels and Strasbourg - but they were against matters they deemed "private" being posted on the internet.

MEPs' financial interests were first published online in July 2001. They are not, however, immediately visible: the document detailing them has to be downloaded first.

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

The posting of records on the internet was 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 to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Liberal Democrat MEP Nick Clegg has criticised those refusing to register, declaring: "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."

The 15 who have refused to publish their financial interests online are:

EPP-ED group: Michl Ebner (I), Brice Hortefeux (F), Peter Mombaur (D), Doris Pack (D), Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl (D), Karsten Knolle (D).

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: Véronique Mathieu (F), Jean-Louis Bernié (F).

Independents/non attached: Gian Paolo Gobbo (I), Carl Lang (F), Peter Sichrovsky (A). D: Germany, F: France, A: Austria

List compiled 23 April 2003.

Fifteen MEPs have defied calls to openly declare their financial interests on the European Parliament website.