As Westminster continues to grapple with the fallout from yet another sexual harassment scandal, an investigation on the continent has found it is by no means the only parliament to struggle with abusive behaviour. A report by Politico describes a “culture of indifference” towards harassment in the European Parliament, with victims left feeling “physically and mentally dead”. In the words of one staffer, “Everybody knows that the situation of members harassing their staff is out of control”.
Despite this, the complaints procedure is inadequate, biased to MEPs and beset by long delays. Between 2019 and 2021, authorities have opened 34 investigations into sexual or psychological harassment, however reliable data into the full-scale of the situation has not been made available. Just two MEPs have been censured for bullying since 2019, with two more known to be under investigation, though these cases to have been made public barely scratch the surface. Politico spoke to nine staffers undergoing anti-harassment procedures, seven alleged victims who were yet to lodge formal complaints and five witnesses to alleged harassment.
If arrests for Donald Trump and Peter Murrell weren’t enough, Brussels police have also been active in clamping down on the dodgy dealings of EU politicians. On Tuesday, Belgian and German police raided the offices of EU party group, the European People’s Party (EPP). It wasn’t even because of Qatargate…
German media is reporting that the raid was connected to Mario Voigt, a CDU politician in Germany, for his involvement in the 2019 European Parliament elections as a consultant for EPP chief Manfred Weber. A statement from the party admitted:
“Representatives from the Belgian and German police authorities visited the party headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday April 4. The visit is connected to an ongoing inquiry in Thuringia, Germany. The party is cooperating in full transparency with the authorities involved, providing all relevant information and documentation.”
No mention of the fact Voigt is under investigation for bribery by anti-corruption police…
Before ruminating on the “lies” and “propaganda” of the Brexit campaign, Jean-Claude Juncker heartily endorsed Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland deal. Speaking to Andrew Marr for LBC, he called the deal a “real breakthrough”, saying he was “quite happy” with what he described as “diplomacy at its best”. Jean-Claude then gave further insight into why he was so keen on the deal:
“I think that the European Commission will have more authority than it seems. And as the European Court of Justice has been reconfirmed in its role as arbiter, when it comes to internal market questions concerning Northern Ireland. So, I think that although the deal is giving response to the major British concerns, there is a part of European Union in the deal some in Britain is trying to hide.”
Rishi will not be grateful for this lavish endorsement. Boris might be onto something here…
“It’s his usual position when it comes to the EU; it’s ‘give the EU a blank cheque and agree to anything they offer’. It’s not a strategy, Mr Speaker, it’s surrender!” Some red meat for the ERG…
The Times’ business pages today carry a big story entitled “Eurozone is set to revive fiscal rules after holding off recession”. The piece gleefully reports that growth rates for the EU have beaten expectations and mean the region will “narrowly avoid recession this winter”. Two of the key measures presented to readers are inflation forecast for 2023 and GDP growth in December (month on month). Accompanied by these hilarious bar charts:
Guido feels not even the misleading bar chart-loving LibDems would try and get away with that on their leaflets…
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to expel Vice President Eva Kaili over her corruption charges in the unravelling EU-Qatari scandal. 625 votes in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions. This is just the tip of the iceberg…
