European Union Ethics Body

The European Union Ethics Body is a proposed inter-institutional ethics body that would cover members of EU institutions.

"With the establishment of the Ethics Body, there will, for the first time, be common standards for the ethical conduct of members and a formal mechanism for coordination and exchange of views on ethical requirements among institutions. Thanks to these changes, EU politicians will be subject to common, clear, transparent and understandable standards."

"'Democracy can thrive only if citizens trust their institutions. People around Europe do not distinguish whether a scandal has originated in one or the other institution. Therefore, if we want to remain credible in their eyes we need all to be subject to common ethical standards. The very serious allegations that emerged over the past few months made me use the opportunity to do something right when things go wrong. Therefore, I call on our partners in the European Parliament, the Council and the other institutions to swiftly support the proposal for an Ethics Body. We need to develop and apply common clear, comprehensible and transparent standards for all the European institutions.'"