Activities of Gunnar BECK related to 2020/2133(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on strengthening transparency and integrity in the EU institutions by setting up an independent EU ethics body
Amendments (9)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that within the EU institutions different legislative measures aimed at preventing conflicts of interest contain varying definitions of the term ‘conflict of interest’; believes therefore that the term should be understood to mean a conflict between the public duty and private interests of a public official or a public decision-maker, in which the public official or public decision-maker has private- capacity interests which could improperly influence the performance of their official duties and responsibilities; notes, however, that a definition of this kind has an evolving nature and that full transparency does not necessarily guarantee the absence of any conflict of interest, nor does it guarantee public trust;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that for proper expertise to be acquired, the future ethics body should be given broad investigative powers and have a permanent, independent and collegiate structure, and that its composition could be based either on specific institutional positions, such as that of the President of the Court of Justice, or on the nomination of experts by each EU institution;
Amendment 70 #
8a. Stresses, in particular, that this body should examine possible conflicts of interest of Commissioners throughout, and at the end of, their term of office;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that the Members and staff of the participating institutions should be covered by the agreement before, during and after the term of office or service in line with the applicable rules; considers that this should apply to Members of Parliament, Commissioners, Commissioner-designates, and all EU staff falling under the scope of the Staff Regulation;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that this monitoring capacity should include the verification of the veracity of the declaration of financial interests, the declarations of assets, the handling of conflicts of interest, checks on transparency obligations, including gifts and lobby transparency rules, and the verification of compliance with revolving doors rules;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Believes that the examination of conflicts of interest should be carried out prior to, during and after public office or employment of all Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Believes that in relation to its enforcement powers, the body could take over from the Appointing Authority in dealing with staff ethics obligations, and that in relation to Members of Parliament or Commissioners or Commissioner- desginates, the body could be granted enforcement powers within the limits of the provisions contained in the Treaties, and without prejudice to any additional mechanisms provided for in Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, in particular concerning termination of office;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Proposes a two-step approach whereby, in the event that the EU Ethics Body becomes awareis informed of a breach or possible breach of ethics rules, it first recommends actions to put an end to the breach; considers that this first preventive step should ensure confidentiality and the right of the person to be heard; suggests that in the event that the individual concerned refuses to take the appropriate actions, the EU Ethics Body should make relevant information about the case publicly available and decide, if appropriate, on sanctions; considers that this two-step approach should apply provided that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the individual acted in bad faith and recommends that intentional breach, gross negligence, the concealment of evidence and non- compliance with the obligation to cooperate should be, as such, subject to sanctions, even when the breach itself has ceased;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls for full transparency regarding all meetings organised by and involving the Body with private actors and their representatives, bot for-profit and non-profit organisations;