EU commissioner urges criminalizing all forms of corruption in member states

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - An EU commissioner on Tuesday condemned all those who take payoffs, kickbacks, and bribes and urged the criminalization of all forms of corruption in all the bloc's member states.

"There must be zero tolerance for corruption. Corruption is a crime that undermines our democracy, economy, and society," Ylva Johansson, commissioner for home affairs, said in a speech to the European Parliament.

"Last Friday it was international anti-corruption day. On this day of all days, Belgian authorities carried out several searches on addresses in Brussels,” she said.

“As of last evening, 20 searches have been carried out. On suspicion of involvement in organized crime, corruption and money laundering. They filed charges against four people. Including one former member of parliament. And a vice president of the European Parliament," she added, referring to Eva Kaili, whose term of office the parliament on Tuesday decided to terminate.

The investigations also confiscated computers, smartphones and over half a million euros in cash.

- 'Shame on you'

"The allegations are extremely serious,” said Johansson. “The investigations are still ongoing. And there is a presumption of innocence. But to anyone accepting payoffs. Kickbacks. Bribes. I say: Shame on you. Shame on you for violating trust. The trust of the people of Europe. Who expect you to fight for their interests, not your own."

The only way to rebuild this trust is to fully support the investigations and for the guilty to be brought to justice, she argued.

Johansson said she will propose a new law next year to get rid of differences in national laws that obstruct the fight against corruption.

"Not just bribery as is the case today. But also trafficking in influence, illicit enrichment, embezzlement, and abuse of power. And impose tough EU-wide criminal penalties for these crimes,” she urged.

“The (EU) Commission continues to support an EU ethics body for all European institutions. For the parliament, (EU) Council, for the European Court of Justice, the ECB (European Central Bank), the European Court of Auditors, and also its advisory bodies – the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Without exception," she said.

Kaili, one of the 14 vice presidents of the European legislative body from Greece's central-left PASOK-KINAL party, was arrested last Friday by Belgian police after her house was searched on corruption charges allegedly linked to Qatar.

Margaritis Schinas, vice president of the European Commission, has been chastised for his ties to Qatar following the European Parliament-linked corruption inquiry, and has stated that he did not get anything from Qatar "other than soccer balls and chocolates.”

Schinas, a Greek member and vice president of the EU Commission who attended the FIFA 2022 World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar on behalf of the EU Commission, also said the gifts he got were all below the EU Commission's threshold for gift registration.

- Qatar rejects allegations

Qatar has rejected any connection to accusations of misconduct that have shaken the European Parliament.

"Qatar categorically rejects any attempts to associate it with accusations of misconduct. Any association of the Qatari government with the reported claims is baseless and gravely misinformed," Doha’s mission to the EU said in a statement Sunday.

It added that the Gulf state "works through institution-to-institution engagement and operates in full compliance with international laws and regulations."