With its activities spreading across 27 Member States and diplomatic missions with economic behemoths, the EU institutions seem nebulous and removed from the national laws that govern most of us. It's not that the EU bodies are irrelevant but rather that they lack the strong arm of local authority that keeps the layperson in check.
Even in its home city of Brussels, the extra-national organisations seem intangible and distanced from the daily affairs of locals. Though closeby, the institutions themselves feel somewhat apart from the rest of town – a satellite cluster that has little bearing on our day to day.
Besides their dealings on the macro level, EU officials speak loudly of values difficult to quantify in concrete terms: dignity, equality, democracy. All ideals we wish to be upheld at all levels of civic life but that are often left out of the equation when it comes to disbursing large sums of cash.
The latest episode to engulf EU bodies again makes it clear that for all the talk of integrity, many within the institutions are partial to the six-figure temptations that their already generous salaries and tax exemptions apparently don't satisfy.
Our justified outrage may well be tempered by cynicism for a system that actively engages with the organisations and industries that it purports to restrain. The legal practice of lobbying is central to how many who work in EU bodies are informed of the challenges specific sectors face. Proponents of this arrangement – which frequently takes place in more comfortable settings than controlled committee rooms – argue that the obvious bias it exposes officials to is balanced by the fact there are lobbies for all manner of causes.
The European Parliament is making a show of coming down hard on individuals who literally stashed away suitcases of banknotes. Vowing that "There will be no business as usual", MEPs will debate this afternoon how to deal with the corruption that has infiltrated their ranks. But regardless of the strong stance that many – notably the Parliament President – have already taken, the damage to the EU's public perception further undermines faith in the institutions.
Is this just the tip of the iceberg? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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1. National demonstration: Public transport disruptions on Friday
Metro, bus and tram operators in all regions in Belgium have confirmed that their services will be disrupted on Friday 16 December as a result of the national demonstration taking place in Brussels. Read more.
2. Qatar corruption scandal: MEP Eva Kaili removed as Vice-President of EU Parliament
MEPs voted on Tuesday to suspend Greek MEP Eva Kaili, a member of the European Social Democratic Group S&D, as Vice-President of the European Parliament, following her involvement in a corruption investigation allegedly involving World Cup host Qatar. Reports suggest she will keep her role as MEP, for now. Read more.
3. 'Torture': EU complicit in refugee mistreatment at EU borders
EU Member States Bulgaria, Hungary and Croatia have actively been locking up refugees in hidden detention centres before transporting them back across the border. An independent investigation by the research platform Lighthouse Reports shows that this was partly done with the knowledge and funding of the EU. Experts call the inhumane treatment "torture". Read more.
4. Belgian film 'Close' nominated for Golden Globes
The latest film by Belgian director Lukas Dhont film has been nominated for a Golden Globe in the best non-English language film category. "Close" centres around friendship and responsibility and has already received international acclaim. Read more.
5. Wallonia Parliament President resigns over Dubai trip scandal
The President of the Parliament of Wallonia, Jean-Claude Marcourt (PS), resigned from his post after meeting with party leaders on Monday evening. Marcourt is at the centre of a scandal involving the misuse of public funds in a trip to Dubai which took place in 2021. Read more.
6. Brussels opens emergency homeless shelter at King Baudouin Stadium
The City of Brussels will open some 50 emergency sheltered places for homeless people in the King Baudouin Stadium during the freezing cold, announced Brussels city councillor for sport Benoit Hellings. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: La Porteuse d’Eau
Named after a statue in Saint-Gilles commune, La Porteuse d’Eau is a romantic Brussels café on two floors with stained glass windows and a beautiful spiral staircase. Read more.
