MEP resigns over claims of lobbyist payments

An Austrian member of the European Parliament resigned on the 20 March 2011 following allegartions in the (UK) Sunday Times newspaper that he and two other MEPs agreed to press for amendments watering down draft European Union banking laws in return for a fee.

The Sunday Times claimed a total of three MEPs – including a former deputy prime minister – had agreed to work for a fake lobbying company in return for a fee and had subsequently put forward amendments to key draft legislation in the European Parliament.

A week later the Sunday Times reported a fourth MEP had been caught up in the 'cash-for-laws' scandal.

The campaigning group ALTER-EU repeated calls for strict new rules and greater transparency in the lobbying process.

BBC News, 28.3.11: Fourth Euro MP named in lobbying scandal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12880701

EUObserver, 28.3.11: Confusion reigns over MEP cash-for-amendments probe http://euobserver.com/9/32082

EurActiv, 28.3.11: Spanish MEP trapped by attractive fake lobbyist http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/spanish-mep-trapped-attractive-false-lobbyist-news-503568

OLAF: Press Release, 25.3.11: OLAF reafirms its competence to investigate members of the European Parliament http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/media-corner/press-releases/press-releases/2011/20110325_01_en.htm

Transparency International, 20.3.11: Transparency International calls for full official investigation of allegations of MEP’s secret payments http://transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2011/2011_03_20_meps_investigation

Alter-EU: Press Release, 27.3.11: Another MEP exposed in 'cash for laws'-scandal; ALTER-EU urges strict new rules http://www.alter-eu.org/press-releases/2011/03/27/transparency-and-ethics-reforms-must-include-full-disclosure-and

Alter-EU: Press Release, 22.3.11: ALTER-EU letter to chairman of European Parliament: European Parliament’s reaction to ‘cash-for-laws’ scandal; proposals for better ethics regulation and lobby transparency http://www.alter-eu.org/documents/2011/03/22/european-parliament%E2%80%99s-reaction-to-%E2%80%98cash-for-laws%E2%80%99-scandal-propo

EL Mundo, 28.3.11: Another MEP gets caught redhanded (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/571951-another-mep-gets-caught-redhanded

EurActiv, 1.4.11: Parliament half-opens its doors to OLAF http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/parliament-half-opens-doors-olaf-news-503666

EUObserver, 1.4.11: Buzek allows Olaf probe, continues to deny access to offices http://euobserver.com/9/32101

EUObserver, 30.3.11: Row intensifies over investigation into MEP scandal http://euobserver.com/9/32097

România liberă, 7.4.11: The wild world of lobbyists (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/588931-wild-world-lobbyists

EUObserver, 18.4.11: Doubts over EU parliamentary reform as officials look to German model http://euobserver.com/9/32205

PressEurop, 1.4.11: Lobbying scandal forces EU's hand http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/580231-lobbying-scandal-forces-eus-hand

De Standaard, 1.4.11: MEPs to check lobbyist ID (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/source-information/10281-de-standaard

Eurojust: Press Release, 11.4.11: OLAF and Eurojust meet to co-ordinate investigations into Members of the European Parliament http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/press/PressReleases/Pages/2011/2011-04-11b.aspx

ESO: Background information: EUR-Lex: Legislation in force: General, financial and institutional matters: Provisions governing the institutions: Parliament http://www.europeansources.info/record/eur-lex-legislation-in-force-general-financial-and-institutional-matters-provisions-governing-the-institutions-parliament/

EurActiv, 21.3.11: Journalistic spoof traps MEPs in bribery affair http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/journalistic-spoof-traps-meps-br-news-503281-spoof-traps-meps-bribery-affair-news-503281

EUObserver, 21.3.11: Bank lobbying sting nabs three senior MEPs http://euobserver.com/9/32028

EUObserver, 6.4.11: Romania asks to lift immunity of cash-for-ammendments MEP http://euobserver.com/9/32130

EurActiv, 23.3.11: Romanian MEP expelled over bribery scandal http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/romanian-mep-expelled-bribery-sc-news-503406

EUObserver, 24.3.11: Anti-corruption campaigner calls time on MEP 'parallel' jobs http://euobserver.com/9/32047

BBC News, 21.3.11: Two Euro MPs quit amid lobbying allegations http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12806955

---