We asked the leaders of EU institutions about their thoughts on the fact that while politicians in certain countries must declare their assets, Brussels bureaucrats and the politicians of some member states are not bound by such obligations.

We asked Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Vice-Presidents Vera Jourova and Frans Timmermans, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola about their thoughts on the fact that while in some countries MPs are required to declare their assets in line with strict rules, politicians in the Netherlands and Cyprus are not bound by such obligations. We also asked what they thought of the fact that politicians in European institutions are not required to submit declarations about their assets and any changes taking place in their financial situation.

According to a recent V4NA piece, while Brusselites are becoming increasingly vocal in demanding transparency from member states, they do not have to declare their assets to the general public. Apart from the failure of the Brussels bubble to uphold one of the EU’s most frequently cited principles, the laxity of the rules could turn Brussels itself into a hotbed of corruption. Members of the elite can conceal where, when and how many properties they acquired during their terms of office, as well as the value of all the movable assets they have collected during their mandates without a need to disclose their business investments, bonds, or even savings. They only need to indicate in their declarations any additional sources that provide them with a salary on top of the EU institutions. The most adrent advocates of transparency, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal ALDE group, and EPP president Manfred Weber, do not disclose their assets to the public.

Yet there are member states where politicians are obliged to declare every asset they own, with some EU countries requiring annual updates in their asset declaration documents. However, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Finland, and Denmark are not part of this group, as in these member states there are no legally binding rules or laws to force MPs and high-ranking officials to disclose their assets. In Cyprus, deputies must only compile and submit a conflict of interest document, which is then examined by a special committee. In the Netherlands, lawmakers are only required to make public if they hold any other positions outside of parliament, as well as the details of their foreign trips, provided that the costs of these trips are financed – in part or in full – by a third party.