MEP criticises Council of Ministers over corruption
The Liberal Democrats have criticised the EU Council of Ministers failure to take seriously monitoring of the UK’s compliance with EU anti-corruption rules*. In answer to a question from London Euro MP Baroness Sarah Ludford, the Council said that it is not obliged to comment on compliance with the 2003 European anti-corruption law.
Sarah criticised the Council as shrugging off responsibility:
Lack of concern about a UK ‘blind eye’ to corruption contrasts starkly with the EU’s asserted determination to root out corruption in new member states Romania and Bulgaria and applicant countries.
Given that the OECD is sending investigators to London, Sarah pointed out that the lack of response from the EU over the dropping of the SFO investigation into the BAE Saudi deal makes the issue embarrassing not only for the UK government but also for the EU.
(*Specifically Article 9 of Council Framework Decision 2003/568/JHA on combating corruption in the private sector.)
Posted in BAE, EU, Sarah Ludford |
