Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001505/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)
Two years ago, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative and Commission representatives presented an anti-corruption package[1]. At that time, the Commission tabled a proposal for an anti-corruption directive, which is currently going through the legislative procedure[2]. Since then, no concrete action has been taken on the matter by the Council and the Vice-President / High Representative.
In the meantime, Parliament last week adopted important reports containing the anti-corruption provisions which I proposed: report on human rights in the world[3], CSDP[4] and report on the CFSP[5]. In the last case, my amendment introduced a comprehensive and specific provision on the risks posed by corruption in the EU’s external relations, with cross-party support from almost the entire European Parliament, as confirmed by the roll-call votes[6].
The recent corruption scandals in Brussels, relating to Chinese and Qatari companies, only confirm that large state-backed corporations do not shy away from the use of corruption to influence EU policies and win key contracts. At the same time, work is ongoing in Washington on new guidelines and a revision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)[7]. All of this requires a firm EU response.
- 1.What action has the VP/HR taken to persuade the Council to implement the solutions presented two years ago, including the establishment of an EU sanctions regime for corruption offences?
- 2.What action does the VP/HR intend to take in response to the European Parliament’s call in these reports?
- 3.What concrete steps is the VP/HR taking to counter foreign corrupt practices, and in the VP/HR’s view, should the EU draw up its own version of a FCPA?
Submitted: 11.4.2025
- [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/anti-corruption-package-press-remarks-high-representativevice-president-josep-borrell-press_en
- [2] The document refers, in a very limited way, to foreign corruption – mainly in Article 20 on jurisdiction.
- [3] Paragraph 22, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2025-0059_EN.html.
- [4] Paragraph 128, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2025-0058_EN.html.
- [5] Paragraph 96, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2025-0057_EN.html.
- [6] Result of the roll-call vote on amendment 7 on page 304-305, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2025-04-02-RCV_EN.pdf.
- [7] https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-practices-act