Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/LONDON: Maria Arena, a chairwoman of the European parliament human rights committee, resigned after failing to declare trips to Qatar amid a corruption scandal that recently hit the European Union assembly.
The Belgian Socialist MEP, Arene, quit after it was revealed that she failed to declare free flights and her stay in a hotel as a guest of the Qatari government.
EU parliament
Maria’s resignation follows the arrest and imprisonment of Eva Kaili, a parliament vice president, after police raids found €1.5 million in cash, allegedly bribery money to buy influence for Qatar.
Maria Arena said: “I proclaim loud and clear that I am not implicated in any way in this affair,” pledging to stand down “until all is clear.”
She said the Belgian authorities have not asked for her parliamentary immunity to be lifted, and neither her office nor her house has been searched. She said that she had not been questioned in any way by the courts either.
The Belgian MEP admitted to violating administrative rules and blamed her office assistant. A maximum penalty she faces is a financial penalty of up to €10,140 or a one-year ban from holding office in the EU assembly.
Only 8 MEPs, out of 705, have made declarations in the past two years.
On Thursday, European Union Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced tightening rules for MEPs. They should require declarations of all meetings with interest groups, a transition period during which former MEPs will be prohibited from working for lobbyists, and stricter rules on gifts and trips.
Meanwhile, Greek socialist Kaili, her husband, a parliamentary aide, a former Italian MEP, and figures connected to a human rights NGO have been charged with corruption.
The Belgian authority has requested that immunity be lifted for two serving MEPs: Marc Tarabella, a Belgian, and Andrea Cozzolino, an Italian.
