Leading European Counter Corruption Consultancy Pavocat Europe statement on allegations that European Union Vice President Eva Kalli has accepted bribes from a Middle Eastern nation.
“The current allegations of corruption in the EU are a shocking indictment on the way corruption can reach into every level of public and private life and they are a reminder that constant vigilance and monitoring and verification mechanisms are essential. If these processes were embedded across the EU they would protect the democratic principles upon which the EU was founded, reassure the electorates and hold both elected MEPs and appointed officials accountable to that democracy. Such systems would also serve as a beacon to other countries and institutions who also struggle with the curse of corruption and attempts to manipulate their processes.
We agree with EU commission President Ursula von der Leyen who has called for an independent ethics body to investigate wrongdoing in the EU. However, as global experts in this field, we would advise that for it to be effective, and to be seen to be relevant, it must be free from EU bureaucracy and be established with a legal framework that allows it to investigate and act unimpeded by pressure or influence.
For the sake of the institution and the people it serves the EU must overcome this latest corruption scandal and hold any guilty parties to account as well as protecting itself and weeding out corruption and poor practice wherever it exists. Unless this is done the great work the EU does across not only European Nations but globally will forever be tainted. For nations found to be taking part in this latest scandal and other corrupt activities there must also be consequences.”