CODES OF CONDUCT FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS

Out of 25 countries, only eight (France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the United Kingdom) have codes of conduct in place for Parliamentarians. Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland DO NOT have a code of conduct for Parliamentarians. In some countries, rules of procedures cover ethical issues (Denmark, Finland and Switzerland). In Bulgaria and Slovenia, there have been repeated attempts to pass comprehensive codes of conduct, but the parliaments have failed to adopt them. Even where codes of conduct do exist, they often include gaps, as is the case with Germany. Codes of conduct should by no means be considered a panacea to combating corruption or wrong doing by MPS, but their value as an integrity mechanism should not be underestimated.

Noteworthy is the case of Poland where MPs are subject to the principles of parliamentarians'ethics. The principles set rules of behaviour for deputies and provide occupational principles for MPs: selflessness, openness, intergity, care for the good name of the parliament and accountability. Moreover, parliamentarians are obliged to report, in the register of benefits, information about the positions they hold and the relevant remuneration; financial interests; donations received; and trips financed from other sources than their own, the institution they are employed by or the party of which they are a member. Cases of conflict of interest are regulated through a number of different regulations. Deputies who fail to conform to the code of ethics have to answer to the Deputies' Ethics Committee, which can, in a  resolution, caution, reprimand or admonish hm. Such a resolution is then published in Kronika Sejmova and in the Parliamentary Information System.