Fidesz MEPs have expressed their firm support for the eradication of corruption in Brussels, which, they said, would only be possible through deep reforms.
In a statement, they called for a meaningful change instead of self-monitoring institutions failing to meet the requirement of political independence, adding that this could only be achieved with the involvement of national parliaments. Fidesz MEP Ernő Schaller-Baross said EU institutions were actively resisting the creation of any kind of rule-of-law control over them, rejecting the possibility of control from member states because this would threaten their powers and objectives. He said the creation of a new, independent ethics body can only be supported if it is established in full respect of the EU treaties while providing adequate powers to member states. “In the absence of these conditions, the EP’s initiative is just one of the steps that serve the power interests of the Union and the political aspirations of the European left,” Schaller-Baross added. Fidesz MEP László Trócsányi said that a new ethics body must be capable of effective action against corruption, and for this, it was essential that — in accordance with the EU founding treaties — it was truly independent organisationally, personally and in terms of its powers. Only a truly independent body established by the parliaments of member states could act effectively against corruption, Trócsányi argued. Following up on earlier measures, members of the European Parliament (EP) on Thursday reiterated their determination to show “zero tolerance for corruption in any shape and at any level” in a resolution adopted at a plenary session in Strasbourg. They urged better implementation of the EP’s Code of Conduct, including financial sanctions in case of breaches, and a ban on any remunerated activities that could create a conflict of interest with an MEP’s mandate.
What's more, the MEPs have expressed support for peace in Ukraine. “A ceasefire and peace talks will lead to lives saved,” they said. At the same time, they slammed the European Union for “further forcing” through energy sanctions, which were “ruining Europe’s national economies”. The MEPs issued their statement before a European Parliamentary vote on a resolution concerning the war in Ukraine, noting that the Hungarian government supported “the attacked party” and condemned Russia’s military aggression. They said, however, that “Brussels’ answer to the war is ill-advised, with everybody seeing the harmful impact of the sanctions”. The sanctions have caused an energy crisis, with soaring prices and inflation, they noted. “It is not right that Europeans should pay for the war.” Passage of the EP resolution would be a “dead end”, while the sanctions included would be “fatal” for Europe and would not lead to an early peace agreement, the statement said, adding that Fidesz’s MEPs planned to boycott the vote.