This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.
Corruption, abuse, special favours and hidden influences thrive
when there is a lack of transparency in institutions and society.
For example, recent scandals in financial markets, conflicts of
interest and corruption in the drug and food industries show the
need for better systems than currently exist.
Transparency International’s 2013 Global Corruption Barometer
report found:
Bribery is widespread;
public institutions entrusted to protect people suffer
the worst levels of bribery;
governments are not thought to be doing enough to hold
the corrupt to account;
the democratic pillars of societies are viewed as the
most corrupt.
An October 2013 report from Corporate
Europe on the influence of vested interests in the food industry concluded
“Over half of the 209 scientists sitting on the [EFSA] agency’s
panels have direct or indirect ties with the industries they are
meant to regulate” and proposed measures to be implemented. The
Transparency International survey also found that in a significant
number of European countries, between 55 and 70% of people surveyed
thought that government was run by a few big interests.
If people are to trust and have confidence in their politicians
and civil servants then there must be robust procedures and systems
in place.
The Parliamentary Assembly should look into this issue in
depth and draw up a report addressing issues such as the following:
all research into a product
or service is made available including when it is not favourable;
there are strict rules to prevent a ‘revolving door’ policy
between civil servants and industries they are meant to regulate;
conflicts of interest are always carefully scrutinized
and prohibited where they occur;
the Assembly should study the measures that the European
Commission and other expert bodies have issued.
