Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission (EC) is preparing a review of travel rules and expenses paid to MEPs by other entities and companies after it was revealed that a top official accepted free flights on Qatar Airways while the team he was part of discussed an important agreement in the aviation sector the Gulf State.
At issue is news, advanced by the Politician, that Henrik Hololei, director general of the Transport department of the European Commission, traveled nine times for free on Qatar Airways, between 2015 and 2021. leadership was dealing with an agreement in the aviation sector with the government of Qatar, which owns the company.
The scandal exacerbated the controversy with the corruption case in the European Parliament, known as Qatargate, leading the institution led by Ursula von der Leyen to immediately prepare measures.
A spokesperson for the EC guarantees that the ethical rules regarding travel paid to those responsible for the organization by other entities will be tightened, after the case of Hololei having “given an incentive to review other aspects of the guide, where more clarifications may be needed”.
“The European Commission is in the process of tightening the rules regarding travel and accommodation provided by an external organizer of an event, to cover the costs of the mission for all its staff. Accepting such an offer will be limited to major events or very important commitments, such as those related to the UN, the G7, or the G20, or if the offer comes from Member States or national authorities, in the context of official visits within the EU”, advances the same source linked to the process, about the measures that should soon be announced.
Read the original story at : multinews.sapo.pt The news article is written from: PEDRO ZAGACHO GONÇALVES