On Wednesday, 10 May 2023, MEP Irena Joveva discussed an update of the EU’s anti-corruption legislative framework at the plenary session in Strasbourg. She underscored that those elected to the European Parliament are there to act for the common good of all people, not to make lives easier for “individuals with deep pockets”, thereby seeking their own personal gain.

The MEP began her speech by listing the most prominent corruption scandals that have shocked citizens, Member States and the European and global public alike. Among them, she mentioned the most recent affair, the so-called Qatargate, while also recalling the “LuxLeaks”, “Galvin report”, “cash-for-influence” and the most notorious “Cresson” affair, which even led to the resignation of the entire European Commission at the time.

These are just a few of the high-profile corruption scandals at European level, and there are many more at Member State level, noted Joveva, adding that this is an extremely big problem, which not only undermines democratic values, but time and again erodes the already fragile trust in politics and politicians:

“We are here to work for the common good of all people, not to make lives easier for certain companies, countries and individuals with deep pockets, and in so doing seeking our own personal gain. It is true that some anti-corruption safeguards and mechanisms are in place, but they are more than clearly insufficient.”

In Joveva’s view, a directive on combating corruption is long overdue, but with the Commission’s current proposal, it is at least finally on the table:

“The proposal finally introduces a single supranational legislation and envisages penalties for corruption crimes. Those who seek to profit will thus finally end up alongside other offenders – behind bars.”

BACKGROUND

During her State of the Union address in September 2022, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged that the Commission would come forward with proposals to tackle corruption. The latest revelations of alleged corrupt practices in the European Parliament have added fuel to the fire, and the Commission subsequently unveiled a proposal for a directive on combating corruption on 3 May 2023.

The European Parliament, as co-legislator, is involved in the examination of proposals to ensure optimal implementation of the rules, political oversight and accountability of those elected. MEPs have taken stock of the European Commission’s anti-corruption proposals in the plenary. The European Union aims to enhance existing frameworks, proactively tackle corruption at the policy-making level, support Member States in these efforts and leverage the annual rule of law report. In addition, the proposal foresees new rules on criminal offences, harmonised penalties across the Member States, and a dedicated regime to target corruption worldwide.

In addition to the latest Qatargate affair, other high-profile scandals in the European Union include the Cresson affair, the “cash-for-influence” affair, LuxLeaks and the Galvin report.

You can watch MEP Joveva’s speech in Slovenian here.

On Wednesday, 19 April 2023, during the Strasbourg plenary session, MEP Irena Joveva contributed to the topical debate Keeping people healthy, water drinkable and soil liveable: getting rid of forever pollutants and strengthening EU chemical legislation now. She said that there has been enough delay in the overhaul of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation. Should an immediate proposal remain outstanding, the European Commission’s empty promises will remain just that – empty, she stressed.

Joveva began by summarising the essence of the plenary debate: the fact that basic goods such as clean water, safe food, unpolluted soil and clean air should be a given. The Union is right to pay a great deal of attention to these areas, but at the same time it shies away from regulating chemicals, where, as Joveva pointed out, there have been no serious amendments since 2006, when the still applicable Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (commonly known as REACH) was adopted.

”The (European) Commission has been seemingly promising its revision for three years now. It appears that the proposal will only be presented in the final quarter of this year, just a few months before the elections. Which means that these empty promises will remain just that. Empty.”

As Joveva elaborated, in the meantime, humans and other organisms will continue to be exposed to harmful chemicals, the negative effects of which will last for decades.

But given that all measures that have been or are being taken in the EU to protect the environment and health succeed or fail depending on closely interconnected areas that remain unregulated, Joveva concluded her speech with determination:

”Enough stalling. We need a revised REACH proposal now. While we still have time to adopt it.”

You can watch MEP Joveva’s speech here (in slovenian).

BACKGROUND

Chemicals are part of our everyday lives and are present in the products we use and in the high-tech materials needed for a circular and climate-neutral economy. The 2006 Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (commonly known as REACH) is the cornerstone of the European Union’s chemicals legislation. This Regulation aims to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment. A targeted revision of the Regulation is currently planned for the fourth quarter of 2023.

On 14 October 2020, the European Commission adopted the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The Strategy is part of the European Union’s zero pollution ambition – a key commitment of the European Green Deal. Through the strategy, the European Commission aims to better protect citizens and the environment from harmful chemicals and to stimulate innovation by promoting the use of safer and more sustainable chemicals. However, given that this is only a strategy, it is not legally binding on Member States.

On Wednesday, 15 March 2023, MEP Irena Joveva spoke at the Strasbourg plenary session in the debate on cross-border adoptions of children from third countries. She pointed out that the price of the lack of a single legislative framework or mechanism for cross-border adoptions will be paid by the children, which none of us should wish for: “Enough with the excuses about who is competent for the matter and who is not. Let’s take responsibility, all of us, and let’s act.”

“Children are our future. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s as simple as that”, began Joveva, stressing that at the same time, as the most vulnerable part of society, “these children are at the mercy of our decisions to take measures to ensure their safety”. In her view appropriate conditions must be created for cross-border adoptions, as otherwise we leave the door open for illegality, the violation of numerous human rights and serious crimes that have devastating consequences in the lives of the victims.

In her address, Joveva focused in particular on the lack of a single legislative framework or mechanism which would serve to prevent potential human trafficking under the guise of cross-border adoptions. She pointed out that there have certainly been many such cases, which unfortunately have gone unnoticed:

“Meanwhile, for years the (European) Commission has been passing on the issue of the lack of regulation to the Member States. Enough with the excuses about who is competent for the matter and who is not. Let’s take responsibility, all of us, and let’s act. Or else … it won’t be us who pays the price. It will be our children. Our future. Does this still sound like a cliché? It’s as simple as that.”

You can watch MEP Joveva’s speech here.

BACKGROUND:

All Member States have national provisions governing adoption, but legal procedures vary considerably across the EU, as substantive family law is a national competence. The European Parliament has been trying to regulate this family law topic with cross-border implications since 2009, when it adopted a Resolution on international adoption in the European Union, which called for consideration to be given to coordinating strategies at European level and facilitating the mutual recognition of the documents necessary for adoption.

In 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution with recommendations to the Commission on cross-border aspects of adoptions. At the time, the Directorate for Impact Assessment and European Added Value (EAVA) estimated that, in addition to the social, health and fundamental rights implications for individuals, the cost of the lack of EU rules on automatic recognition of adoption decisions amounted to around €1.65 million per year. Legislation at EU level would reduce administrative and legal costs and better protect the interests of the child and the fundamental rights of adoptive parents.

On Tuesday, 14 February 2023, MEP Irena Joveva spoke at the Strasbourg plenary session on the need for an independent EU ethics body. “I think it is now clear to everyone that there is no other way”, she said, stressing that without integrity, transparency, accountability and zero tolerance of corruption, there will be no trust in the work of MEPs.

She said that, while certain rules already exist, the different codes of conduct that the European institutions have put in place make standards uneven, investigative powers insufficient, and sanctions deficient and often unconvincing.

”It is true that in the end, it all depends on the integrity of every individual, but it is nevertheless right that we establish a European ethics body, with unified, clear rules of conduct within all institutions. And I hope these will be the strictest rules possible.”

She went on to point out that a majority in the European Parliament had called for the creation of the body two years ago, but unfortunately to no avail. At the same time, she expressed her hope that, especially given all the recent corruption scandals, the European Commission will finally follow through on its commitment made on that occasion and act on the European Parliament’s renewed request.

”I think it’s now clear to everyone that there is no other way. It certainly is to those of us who have no problem with rules and ethics.”

Background

On 15 December 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on suspected corruption by Qatar and the wider need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions. On 16 September 2021, MEPs had already called on the Commission to come forward with a proposal to improve transparency and integrity in decision-making at the EU level. In today’s debate with the Council of the EU and the European Commission, MEPs reiterated their call for the establishment of an independent EU ethics body.

Its purpose would be to ensure that public decisions are taken for the common good and help regain citizens’ trust in the EU institutions. It would be set up by an interinstitutional agreement between the Parliament and the Commission and would be open to all EU institutions, agencies and bodies with powers of investigation or advice, depending on the matter under discussion. Before her election, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to set up such a body and entrusted the task to Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova.

On Wednesday, 18 January 2023, MEP Irena Joveva (Renew Europe/Gibanje Svoboda) addressed the European Parliament during the plenary debate on the situation of journalists in Morocco. She highlighted the state of affairs regarding journalism in Morocco, where the Moroccan government is clamping down on journalists and silencing voices that report on government corruption. “If there are no reports on government corruption, it doesn’t exist, right?”, she said sharply.

According to the MEP, the Moroccan government only pays lip service to media pluralism, while the situation pertaining to journalism in the country is quite different. She stressed that, despite the fact that the right to information and the right to freedom of expression are enshrined in the Constitution, they are not respected.

“Journalists are extremely restricted in their activities, forced to self-censorship, and the right to report on corruption, the status of the monarchy and the status of Western Sahara is – to put it mildly – extremely curtailed.”

As Joveva added, there remains only one independent media outlet in Morocco, and its journalists are regularly harassed, persecuted, unjustly arrested or even imprisoned on false charges of illegal termination of pregnancy or sexual assault.

“All this and more, what the Moroccan government is doing, is outrageous. It is time for the EU not only to clearly condemn such practices, but to take even stronger action. Let this resolution be just a start. To the gentlemen who are defending such moves by the Moroccan government, I say again at this point: no, the resolution is not based on manipulated data, and no, we will not stand idly by and watch what you are doing.”

BACKGROUND

The plenary debate highlighted in particular the case of Omar Radi, a Moroccan investigative journalist and human rights activist who has reported on government corruption. He has been detained since 29 July 2020 and sentenced to six years in prison. The sentence was upheld by the court of appeal. According to the organisation dealing with human rights, the proceedings against Omar Radi involved serious violations of international fair trial standards.

You can watch the MEP’s full plenary speech in slovenian HERE.