The report, adopted with 63 votes for, two against and two abstentions, builds on the European Commission’s draft for an anti-corruption directive that would strengthen the existing legislative framework.

A broader scope and a stricter approach

MEPs amended the draft anti-corruption provisions to cover more persons of interest, including “any person entrusted with tasks of public interest or in charge of a public service”. MEPs want top EU decision-makers, i.e. MEPs, Commissioners, and the President of the European Council, to be added to the category of “high-level officials” and be subject to more severe rules. Provisions were also included for military officials, senior executives of state-owned corporations, and managing officials of political parties represented in a parliament.

MEPs also made the proposed penalties stricter, particularly in relation to an offender’s ability to hold public office and exclusions from access to public funding. They included…