Marine Le Pen, leader of the far‐right National Rally, was convicted for embezzling over €4 million from the European Parliament between 2004 and 2016. The verdict, which included a four‐year prison sentence (with two years suspended) and a five‐year ban from holding public office, reinforces institutional accountability. Far‐right figures, notably Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, decried the decision as 'a declaration of war by Brussels,' highlighting the polarized political climate around enforcing ethical standards.

The article reports on increasing authoritarian influence within the European Parliament following the European elections. It highlights the Qatargate scandal as the biggest corruption case in decades, with allegations of bribery and payments from Russia and China to certain MEPs, which could enable authoritarian regimes to sway EU decision‐making.

On April 24, 2024, the European Parliament gave its final approval to two landmark pieces of legislation: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and a forced labor regulation. These measures aim to hold companies accountable for human rights abuses and environmental damage, strengthening labor rights and establishing structural changes in the EU market to curb exploitation.

The European Parliament passed a new due diligence directive requiring companies and their partners to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts on human rights and the environment, marking a significant legislative move to hold businesses accountable for practices such as labor exploitation and environmental degradation.

On April 23, 2024, the European Parliament adopted legislation that bans products made with forced labour from the EU single market. The measure will empower member state authorities and the European Commission to investigate supply chains and impose penalties on non-compliant manufacturers, thereby protecting workers' rights and ethical business practices.

European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the EU Media Freedom Act on December 15, 2023, establishing measures to ensure media independence through transparent procedures for appointments, funding, and protection of journalists against state interference.

The European Parliament adopted a draft regulation aimed at banning products made with forced labour. The measure introduces a framework to investigate the use of forced labour in supply chains, reverses the burden of proof in high-risk cases, and mandates that companies remedy violations before goods can return to the EU market. This legislative move is designed to compensate harmed workers and protect ethical businesses from unfair competition.

The European Parliament, as detailed in an October 2021 briefing by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), has introduced a new mandatory Transparency Register aimed at enhancing transparency of both domestic and foreign lobbying activities. This measure is designed to counter covert influence tactics and strengthen democratic oversight against authoritarian interference.