From Brussels to Berlin: The rules on transparency and ethics for European lawmakers

A fresh corruption probe linked to Chinese tech company Huawei, the findings of the French court debarring Marine Le Pen for embezzlement, and a Hungarian proposal to subject MEPs to disclosure obligations akin to their domestic counterparts. This string of recent headlines has put transparency and ethics affecting MEPs under the spotlight. 

But here’s the twist: MEPs must follow a Code of Conduct packed with rules on transparency and lobbying ethics. So, what’s in it? And how does it compare to the norm in other EU countries?

Think of the Code of Conduct as the Parliament’s rulebook. First introduced in 2012 and refreshed in 2023, it’s designed to keep MEPs in check, ensuring they act with integrity, transparency, and honesty—all while safeguarding the institution’s reputation.  

At its core, the Code is built on the principle that public service must be free from conflicts of interest, whether financial or familial. To uphold this, MEPs must keep their personal and professional interests separate and declare their private interests, assets, and any potential conflicts of interest. 

For example, following the scandal in the European Parliament related to Qatari officials, MEPs must now declare any outside activities earnings that exceed €5,000 in a calendar year. But unlike in other countries, EU rules allow MEPs to have outside jobs, which has previously drawn criticism from NGOs and civil society organisations. 

To further guarantee transparency, MEPs must also publish records of their meetings with lobbyists and officials from within or outside the EU, as well as any trips or events where their travel, accommodation, or other expenses are covered by third parties. This information is publicly available on their