In January 2023, President Metsola instructed the Quaestors to develop proposals aimed at enhancing the European Parliament’s anti-harassment policies. Following the Quaestors’ recommendations, the Bureau resolved on July 10 to establish a mediation service and endorsed the introduction of mandatory training for Members. Additionally, the Bureau agreed to refine the current procedures of the Advisory Committee that addresses harassment complaints related to Members.
President Metsola emphasized the importance of safe and respectful workplaces, stating, “Ensuring a safe environment at work has always been a priority for me. Enhancing and encouraging anti-harassment policies within Parliament is essential to my goal of reforming the European Parliament to make it more effective, transparent, and equitable. This reform is promising, as it focuses particularly on measures designed to better safeguard victims, expedite processes, and emphasize prevention through training and mediation.”
### New Mediation Service in the European Parliament
The decision to implement a mediation service aims to assist Members and staff in navigating challenging interpersonal situations and to foster a positive, collaborative working atmosphere where conflicts can be addressed or averted early on. The mediation service will operate independently and adhere to fundamental mediation principles, including confidentiality, voluntariness, informality, and self-determination.
### Mandatory Training for Members
To ensure comprehensive support for Members, training titled “How to Create a Good and Well-Functioning Team,” comprising five modules, will be mandatory for all Members and provided at the start of their terms and throughout their legislative period beginning in spring 2024.
The training modules will encompass topics such as recruiting assistants, effective team management—including conflict prevention and early resolution strategies—as well as the administrative and financial aspects of parliamentary assistance, alongside measures for preventing harassment.
### Revision of the Advisory Committee’s Operations
Several amendments have been established to enhance the current rules that reflect best practices, align with recent legal precedents, and consider input from Parliamentary assistants’ representatives. Among these changes, new rules will aim to simplify and shorten procedures, providing additional protections for complainants and supporting measures for their contract duration when harassment is validated.
A new, restricted hearing format has also been agreed upon for sensitive cases, such as sexual harassment complaints. The revisions further reinforce the obligation of both complainants and Members to cooperate with the committee while ensuring the confidentiality of all proceedings to safeguard the privacy of all involved.
Additionally, the Bureau has backed the principle of facilitating amicable contract terminations between Members and their accredited parliamentary assistants.
All agreed measures will be finalized in upcoming meetings and accompanied by various awareness-raising initiatives.
### Next Steps
The approved mediation service is expected to be implemented as promptly as possible. Current training on harassment prevention will continue for Members, while the new mandatory training on “How to Create a Good and Well-Functioning Team” will be designed for rollout in spring 2024, coinciding with the start of the next legislative term. The Constitutional Affairs Committee will work on integrating this agreement into the existing parliamentary regulations. Moreover, additional staff will be assigned to the relevant service to ensure adequate administrative support for the implementation of the decisions aimed at enhancing Integrity, Independence, and Accountability within the Institution.
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