On 1 November 2023, amendments to the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure entered into force. The amendments strengthen integrity, transparency and accountability in the European Parliament (EP) as a response to the Quatargate corruption scandal. They were decided in plenary on 13 September 2023 and are based on the EP President's 14-point reform plan (→ eucrim 1/2023, 27). MEPs have adopted a stricter ban on all activities by MEPs that are constituting lobbying and tougher penalties for breaches of the code of conduct. Other changes include:

• Obligation for MEPs to submit declarations of input on ideas or suggestions received from external actors to be annexed to all reports and opinions;
• Wider rules on the publication of meetings so they apply to all MEPs and cover meetings with third country representatives;
• Stronger rules on "revolving doors", introducing a ban on MEPs from engaging with former MEPs who have left Parliament in the previous six months;
• Expanded definition of conflicts of interest;
• Extended threshold to declare additional incomes (now including all remunerated activities both regular and occasional);
• Obligation to declare assets at the beginning and end of every term of office;
• Stronger role for the competent Advisory Committee;
• Regulation and restriction of unofficial groupings' activities.

The EP also decided that declarations of interests submitted prior to these changes will remain valid until 31 December 2023.