European Parliament agrees on code of conduct

The Conference of Presidents (made up of the European Parliament President and the Political Group leaders) approved unanimously on the 7 July 2011 a new Code of Conduct for members of the European Parliament. The Code set out rules and principles which MEPs would need to follow in their contacts with outside interests and to avoid conflicts of interest.

The Conference of Presidents then referred the Code to the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the EP in view of a subsequent vote by the whole Parliament to bring it into force.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Fresh financial scandal hits EU parliament http://www.europeansources.info/record/fresh-financial-scandal-hits-eu-parliament/

ESO: Background information: MEP resigns over claims of lobbyist payments http://www.europeansources.info/record/mep-resigns-over-claims-of-lobbyist-payments/

ESO: Background information: Buzek defends parliament's efforts to tighten internal rules http://www.europeansources.info/record/buzek-defends-parliaments-efforts-to-tighten-internal-rules/

European Parliament: Press Release, 7.7.11: Parliament group leaders endorse new Code of Conduct for MEPs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/content/20110707IPR23576/html/Parliament-group-leaders-endorse-new-Code-of-Conduct-for-MEPs

European Parliament: Code of Conduct for MEPs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110707MLT23593/media_20110707MLT23593.pdf

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