STOP CORRUPTION

12.00.00am GMT Fri 26th Feb 2010

North East Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall is calling on the European Commission to step up its fight against corruption across the EU.

A founding member of European Parliament cross-party initiative STOP CORRUPTION, Fiona has signed a Written Declaration in the European Parliament demanding a comprehensive European anti-corruption policy and adequate monitoring systems in Member States to ensure that EU funds are not subject to corruption.

Said Fiona:

"Corruption is not just something that happens in developing countries, it is a real issue in European countries as well. The EU must play a bigger role in helping member states to fight corruption.

"In particular, EU funds must be spent in an honest and transparent way with adequate national accounting. It is weaknesses at a national level, not at the European level, which have led to the auditors having problems with signing off the EU's accounts."

A recent Eurobarometer survey has found that 78% of EU citizens think that corruption is a major concern in their country, with one third agreeing that the EU helps to reduce corruption in their country.

Added Fiona:

"We need a comprehensive anti-corruption policy that will enable European institutions to safeguard EU funds and support national institutions in their battle against corruption."

In the UK, there has been a nine percent increase in those that consider corruption to be a national problem (from 65% to 73%) between 2007 and 2009. In March, the House of Commons will debate the so-called Bribery Bill that is meant to replace the old and fragmented legislation with a modern and consolidated bribery law, compliant with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.