With a large majority, the parliament supported the new directive. This creates a unified framework for combating corruption within the EU. The goal is to reduce disparities between countries and make enforcement more effective.
The European Parliament, by a wide majority, backs a new European anti-corruption law. This is a first, as the EU has never before adopted such legislation. Initially, it seemed unlikely that the law would pass. Among others, the Italian government expressed strong objections to the new European law.
Corruption
The law defines which acts constitute corruption. These include bribery, embezzlement, unauthorized influence, and illicit enrichment. By standardizing these definitions, judges and prosecutors will be better equipped to act.
Promotion
Furthermore, regulations on punishments are being tightened. Member states must ensure that maximum sentences are not too low. This aims to prevent corruption cases from being penalized less severely in some countries than in others.
Minimum Sentences
Dutch MEP Raquel GarcÃa Hermida-van der Walle (D66/Renew Europe) was the chief negotiator behind the law. Immediately after the vote, she and Parliament President Roberta Metsola spoke to the press about this important vote.
Under the new law, all European countries will be required to adopt strategies to prevent and combat corruption. Several corruption offenses, such as bribery, embezzlement, and trading in influence, will be consistently criminalized throughout the Union.
Judges will receive more tools to punish corrupt criminals, minimum sentences will be established, and the independence of anti-corruption authorities must be guaranteed. According to GarcÃa Hermida-van der Walle, the law makes a significant difference for Europe.