The Qatar Gate scandal now seems distant, and it is increasingly unlikely that Eva Kaili will face trial in Belgium for her alleged involvement in the corruption case. However, the integrity system within European lawmaking has developed. Although not far enough for many, it is moving in the right direction. In two handbook chapters on Lobbying in the European Union and in my recent yearbook article Interest Representation in the EU, I provided some overviews of the EU’s integrity framework.
I explored the growing external influence on the European Parliament and the EU’s legislative process, particularly focusing on strategic corruption by third countries. The EU has responded by introducing new guidelines, including the establishment of an interinstitutional ethics body to address this threat. Concerns have been raised about the impact of such influence on democracy, especially following the “Qatargate” scandal in 2022, which exposed illicit lobbying activities from third states. While the European Commission has proposed anti-corruption measures and transparency directives, these face criticism for potentially restricting legitimate democratic and non-profit organizations. Additionally, challenges remain in measuring legal lobbying influence, the role of transparency registers, and the effort to strengthen ethical standards across EU institutions. Despite recent initiatives, many question their effectiveness without stronger enforcement mechanisms. The article concludes that although recent corruption scandals have not deeply undermined democratic processes in the EU, the success of these new initiatives will hinge on continued vigilance and further reforms.
In the newly proposed European Commission for 2024–2029, Maroš Šefčovič will once again oversee transparency and interinstitutional affairs, managing lobbying regulations and ensuring transparent decision-making processes. The Commission is currently under review by the European Parliament, which must confirm the entire College of Commissioners. Šefčovič’s responsibility for managing external influence on EU lawmaking is not new, but his portfolio has been expanded to include trade, focusing on new global trade deals, strengthening the EU’s economic security and trade defenses, and safeguarding against external influences from third countries. Whether this signals a fundamental realignment of the European Commission regarding legislative integrity remains to be seen. In any case, the new Commission is likely to address strategic corruption from external sources as part of a broader approach.
- Hüttemann, Bernd (2022). Lobbyismus im Mehrebenensystem der Europäischen Union. In: Polk, Andreas; Mause, Karsten (Hrsg.) Handbuch Lobbyismus. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-32324-0_17-1
- Bernhagen, Patrick; Hüttemann, Bernd (2023). Lobbying in the European Union. In: Polk, Andreas; Mause, Karsten (eds) The Political Economy of Lobbying. Studies in Public Choice, vol 43. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44393-0_15
- Hüttemann, Bernd (2024). Interessenvertretung. In: Weidenfeld, Werner; Wessels, Wolfgang (Hrsg.): Jahrbuch der Europäischen Integration 2024, Baden-Baden 2024. Im Erscheinen. https://www.nomos-shop.de/de/p/jahrbuch-der-europaeischen-integration-2024-gr-978-3-7560-1625-9