The Conference of Group Presidents in the European Parliament has decided to recommend to the College of Quaestors to annul its decision of November 2007 authorising the opening of the office of the European Business and Parliament Scheme (EPBS). This body, created by former EP President Pat Cox (Ireland), aimed to advise MEPs and serve as a link between them and the world of business. Made up primarily of parliamentarians, it indirectly gave 28 major multinationals the possibility of lobbying within the Parliament. This situation pushed some MEPs, including the Co-chair of the Greens-EFA group, Italian Monica Frassoni, to denounce this "unethical" lobbying. The next meeting of the quaestors will be held at the plenary in Strasbourg, from 19 to 22 May. They are expected to approve a decision to shut down the EPBS. (CSA)
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