A strong response to the Epstein files: ensuring full transparency and accountability

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16381 | 19 April 2026

Signatories:

Mr Pablo HISPÁN, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Denis BEGIC, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Adam BODNAR, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Iulian BULAI, Romania, ALDE ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Mr Benjamin DALLE, Belgium, EPP/CD ; Ms Marie-Christine DALLOZ, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Natalia DAVIDOVICI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Ms Andrea EDER-GITSCHTHALER, Austria, EPP/CD ; Mr Constantinos EFSTATHIOU, Cyprus, SOC ; Mr Yunus EMRE, Türkiye, SOC ; Ms Irena FERČIKOVÁ KONEČNÁ, Czechia, SOC ; Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino, SOC ; Ms Gökçe GÖKÇEN, Türkiye, SOC ; Mr Gustaf GÖTHBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Andries GRYFFROY, Belgium, ALDE ; Ms Kristina IKIĆ BANIČEK, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Aleksei JEVGRAFOV, Estonia, ALDE ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Ms Carmen LEYTE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Szabolcs NAGY, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Zsolt NÉMETH, Hungary, ECPA ; Ms Wanda NOWICKA, Poland, SOC ; Mr Marko PAVIĆ, Croatia, EPP/CD ; Ms Filiz POLAT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Ivan RAČAN, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Sebastian RĂDUCANU, Romania, SOC ; Mr Gonzalo ROBLES, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Frank SCHWABE, Germany, SOC ; Ms Elena-Simona SPĂTARU, Romania, ALDE ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The release of the 'Epstein Files' in November 2025 revealed the extent of Jeffrey Epstein’s influence and outreach in political, diplomatic, academic and business circles worldwide.

It is shocking that many individuals in positions of leadership continued to maintain close ties with Epstein even after his conviction for sexual offences in 2008 became public knowledge. Among these figures was Thorbjørn Jagland, then Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Mr Jagland led the Council of Europe at a pivotal moment in its history, characterised by strained relations between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Russian Federation due to the latter's illegal occupation and annexation of Crimea, as well as its aggression against the Donbass — two regions under Ukrainian sovereignty.

The revelations in the Epstein filles do not only point to exploitation, trafficking, rape, abuse, outright toxic misogyny but also to structural vulnerabilities affecting democratic systems. These include insufficient transparency, weak oversight of lobbying and conflicts of interest, and the ability of informal networks to gain privileged access to, and influence, decision-making processes.

Full investigations should be carried out into the information emerging from the Epstein files. The victims of the sexual exploitation promoted by this network must be protected and compensated, and full criminal — and, where applicable, political — accountability must be ensured for those involved.

The Parliamentary Assembly should examine the broad implications of the Epstein files and make recommendations to strengthen safeguards against undue influence and conflicts of interest, enhance transparency and oversight, and reinforce accountability.

To protect the credibility of the Council of Europe as an organisation that promotes democratic governance and the highest integrity standards in public life, the Assembly should support the internal investigation launched within the Council of Europe and the inquiries being conducted by Norway.