Friday’s sentencing of former far-right MEP Nathan Gill for multiple counts of bribery is welcome accountability for a European Parliament that has been rocked by corruption scandal after corruption scandal. Yet there are ample indications the buck may not stop with Mr Gill. Parliament must now proactively cooperate fully with law enforcement, to investigate the depth of this matter. But to prevent future corruption, it must also finally reform its whistleblower rules to ensure those who expose such wrongdoing are protected. Further, the Parliament must monitor the MEPs who are meeting malign foreign actors more robustly.
Mr Gill has been convicted of taking at least eight bribes to promote Russia in Brussels, including in Parliamentary speeches. His close association with other MEPs who made pro-Russia statements coupled with Parliament’s woefully permissive ethics environment, call into question whether this case should be closed here.
Indeed, this would not be the first instance of MEPs allegedly corrupted in Russia’s interest. In March 2024, it was alleged that several MEPs had taken money to promote Russian propaganda on Youtube. Data by Transparency International EU further shows that MEPs have, in this mandate alone, declared meetings with Russian government representatives on at least 19 occasions.
It is therefore incumbent upon the European Parliament to launch a full investigation into the extent of this bribery case, in full cooperation with the relevant authorities. Still, its own whistleblowing rules leave potential whistleblowers open to retaliation, while MEPs are free to meet with malign foreign actors. As a matter of urgency, Parliament’s whistleblowing rules must therefore be brought in line with the EU’s own whistleblower Directive, and meetings with representatives of malign foreign governments must be monitored with the highest levels of scrutiny.
Shari Hinds, Policy Officer for EU Political Integrity, said:
“Now that justice has been served, the European Parliament must not look away. Instead, it should be asking itself how deep such corruption in its own house runs, and finally implement the oversight and whistleblower protection rules it desperately needs to stop it.”
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