MEPs and Estonia push for EU corruption sanctions
Seventy-one MEPs have called on EU leaders to add corrupt foreign officials to the bloc’s global human rights sanctions list. In a letter dated 21 October, they urged that serious corruption, including bribery and misappropriation of public funds, become a criterion for visa bans and asset freezes. The proposal is backed by Estonia. The MEPs warned that the absence of a corruption criterion left a loophole, allowing officials sanctioned by other Western partners to continue benefiting from EU institutions. They argued that such a step would have moral and strategic value. The existing list names 151 individuals and 34 entities, but corruption is not currently a ground for inclusion.
