EU Commissioners Code of Conduct must be tightened up - Watson

2.44.00pm GMT Mon 27th Oct 2008

Graham Watson MEP

Local Graham Watson MEP, is pressing for the EU Commissioner's Code of Conduct to be tightened up in light of allegations regarding the relationship between former EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska.

Commenting, Graham said:

"Nobody is alleging that Peter Mandelson has been unduly influenced in his decision making by Mr Deripaska.

"However, the rules suggest that any hospitality received by a Commissioner in his or her private life should be declared in the same way as in his or her public life. Peter Mandelson cannot hide behind an excuse of it being a holiday.

"It was Liberal Democrat pressure, in light of the Edith Cresson affair, that resulted in the Code of Conduct being established. We will press to have them tightened to clear up any future grey areas in this regard:"