Concerns have been expressed over MEPs who hold second jobs outside their primary job in terms of potential conflicts of interests.

Half a dozen members of the European Parliament earn more from second jobs than from being EU lawmakers, according to analysis conducted by Transparency International EU – raising potential conflicts of interest issues and prompting further questions over potential conflicts of interest. Of its 705 seats in total, 70% have side jobs. Top-20 earnings included two socialists; two liberals including former Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt; one independent who was expelled from liberal group; Lithuanian MEP Viktor Uspaskich had EUR3million earnings – topping this list. Due to comments containing homophobic remarks, he was removed from Renew and now sits as an independent. Uspaskich earned widespread media coverage when reported by Lithuania’s public broadcaster for contributing money to an anonymous website that spread conspiracy theories surrounding Ukraine and Covid vaccines. He earned additional earnings of EUR220,248 through financial services companies where he held board roles besides MEP salaries. In second place was French MEP Jerome Riviere who earned EUR220.148 over and above his MEP salary from his involvement as director in various financial firms. Riviere was initially elected to the European parliament under Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party but then switched sides, joining Eric Zemmour’s Reconquete party before returning as an independent in 2023. At no.3, Laszlo Trocsanyi of Hungary earned EUR171,638 estimated earnings through academic work at universities as rector and university rectorship; among MEPs with substantial earnings – although these amounts fell short of legislator salaries – was former leader of liberal group Guy Verhofstadt who earned roughly EUR197,000 annually during this timeframe. He earned EUR131,988, mostly through company boards and public speaking engagements. French centre-right MEP Geoffrey Didier made EUR115,200 working at a law firm as a corporate lawyer “advising and supporting business leaders or financial organisations with litigation proceedings”, along with additional outside earnings. His legal work was fully compatible with his MEP mandate, while time constraints may limit their work as MEP. “Despite my limited time commitments,” he asserted: citing leading roles legislating EU’s Digital Services Act and Media Freedom Acts as examples. “I know many MEPs who do not engage in legal or any other professional activity and, yet, work just as diligently. Monika Hohlmeier, a German centre-right MEP, declared annual fees totalling EUR75,000 for serving on the board of Munich-based BayWa group – an agriculture, construction and energy conglomerate listed as EU lobbyist in its lobbyist register. She stated: “I strongly believe that politicians must engage not only within parliament but also outside. To this end, it’s crucial that their activities be publicised – something I have done since joining my profession in 2009.” “She emphasized her independence of decision making, explaining: “My experiences from working at different organisations or within BayWa have provided invaluable knowledge that enables me to objectively approach issues from different viewpoints and provide me with tools for an in-depth analysis and thorough evaluative process of facts. “Flemish nationalist MEP Johan Van Overtveldt earned EUR30,000 annually as chairman of an Antwerp-based technology and payment systems firm called Nbx BV.” Van Overtveldt’s office disclosed that she is part of their international board and focused on their plans to expand outside the EU. “Hence no conflict of interests”.The Guardian has reached out to all named MEPs for comment. While no rules were broken by any MEP, Transparency International EU expressed concerns over various secondary jobs (paid and unpaid), which raise questions of conflicts of interests as well as foreign interference 18 months after being rocked by “Qatargate”, cash for influence scandal. Raphael Kergueno, lead author of Transparency International EU study which focused on MEPs’ public declarations of outside interests up until 24 April 2024 and found “mistakes”, activities which could potentially facilitate conflicts of interests as well as limited checks within parliament compared to more “proactive” checks carried out by certain EU member states such as France. “That raises all kinds of problems: possible conflicts of interest… [and] potentially providing access for entities seeking to divert funds from third country governments into the European Parliament.” After the Qatargate scandal, MEPs voted to tighten ethics and transparency standards. More than half (13 MEPs) opposed an amendment which would have banned side jobs with organizations listed on the EU Lobbyists Register. Proposal ultimately failed when more than 90% of EPP and Eurosceptic European Conservative and Reformists (ECR) group rejected it. Transparency International also raised questions as to whether MEPs who hold down second jobs have time to dedicate to their parliamentary duties effectively. Report findings demonstrate that an average MEP with side interests engages in four activities (both paid and unpaid), with 23 MPs reporting more than 10 activities as side jobs. “Some MPs seem to engage in so many extracurriculars which begs the question as to how their time is being allocated,” Kergueno stated. “[W]e must ensure there are no conflicts of interests and ensure elected representatives work full time for their constituents, rather than serving only personal gain.” “Transparency International has issued an appeal to the next European parliament, which starts its term in July following European elections, to ban all side jobs paid and unpaid.” As MEPs cannot vote themselves on such an act of banishment, Kergueno noted the campaign group would prefer more robust checks from parliament on second jobs that “provide resources necessary to avoid conflicts of interests between MEPs and second job providers”, thus protecting MEPs themselves.