London: Maria Arena, chairwoman of the human rights committee of the European Parliament, resigned after failing to report trips to Qatar in the midst of a corruption scandal that rocked the EU assembly.
After it was discovered that the Belgian Socialist MEP had improperly declared free travel and her stay in a five-star hotel while a guest of the Qatari government, she resigned.
Her resignation comes after Eva Kaili, a vice president of the parliament, was detained and imprisoned following police raids that turned up €1.5 million ($1.6 million) in cash that was thought to be a bribery fund used to buy influence for Qatar.
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Arena vowed to leave the situation "until all is clear" and stated, "I proclaim loud and clear that I am not implicated in any way in this affair."
She claimed that neither her office nor her home had been searched, nor had the Belgian government requested that her parliamentary immunity be lifted. Neither had the legal system interrogated her in any way.
The Belgian MEP acknowledged breaking procedural rules and placed the blame on her office assistant. She could receive a fine of up to €10,140 or a one-year suspension from serving in the EU assembly as an official.
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Out of a total of 705 MEPs, only eight have made declarations in the last two years.
The tightening of regulations for MEPs was announced by EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Thursday. They include stricter rules on gifts and trips, a transition period during which former MEPs are not permitted to work for lobbyists, and declarations of all meetings with interest groups.
Meanwhile, corruption charges have been brought against Greek socialist Kaili, her husband, a parliamentary aide, a former Italian MEP, and individuals associated with a human rights NGO.
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The Belgian government has asked that the immunity of two current MEPs, Italian Andrea Cozzolino and Belgian Marc Tarabella, be lifted.