This morning, Politico disclosed that European Parliament President Roberta Metsola's husband, Ukko Metsola, is a prominent EU lobbyist for the Royal Caribbean Group.
Following the 2022 Qatargate cash-for-influence scandal, Metsola advocated for a new ethics code requiring senior members to disclose conflicts of interest, including those involving family members. However, these new rules did not apply to the Parliament President or any other current presidents.
Politico's report highlights that Ukko Metsola was involved with one of the world’s largest cruise companies, with interests affected by green legislation subsequently passed in the European Parliament. Although Ukko complied with lobbying regulations, his role had previously gone largely unnoticed.
Nicholas Aiossa of Transparency International EU commented to Politico that any spouse engaged in activities influencing EU policy should be disclosed. While there is no evidence of wrongdoing, the lack of transparency has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest within the Parliament.
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