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Several members of the European Parliament have come under scrutiny for failing to fully disclose income from outside jobs, raising questions about transparency and accountability in Brussels.
Under EU rules, MEPs are required to report any income exceeding €5,000 a year from outside professional activities. The ethics code specifies that members must list each source of income and, when relevant, the frequency of payments.
Yet Transparency International recently published a list of 14 MEPs who have not declared such earnings, according to Politico’s newsletter EU Influence.
High Profiles and Hidden Earnings
The list includes Spanish far-right MEP Alvis Pérez, who works as an anti-corruption influencer. Pérez told the Parliament last year that exact figures from his influencer activities would be reported annually, but no updates have been provided since he was elected in 2024. Public records show he earned around €20,000 per month from this work in the months before the election. His team maintains that all income was properly declared according to the rules.
Italian MEP Mario Mantovani, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists, reportedly holds three outside advisory roles in addition to his parliamentary duties. Transparency International says Mantovani promised to declare his earnings by the end of 2024, but that has yet to happen. He did not respond to a request for comment. Prior to his election, Mantovani earned six-figure sums annually from these positions.
Polish MEP Michał Wawrikiewicz, a lawyer with clients in retail, real estate, telecommunications, and railways, said he did not think it necessary to report his income to the European Parliament, since he had already declared it in the Polish parliament.
Far-right Czech MEP Jana Nagyová said her office had misinformed her about reporting requirements. She earned roughly €150 per month as a member of a local council and €300 per month in a regional assembly, though the latter stopped last January.
Some Comply, Others Still Pending
A few MEPs provided additional information after being contacted. German independent Sybill Berg, a writer and playwright, disclosed that she earns €120,000 per year outside Parliament. “We value transparency and believe disclosure obligations support public accountability,” said Dustin Hoffman, head of her office.
Green MEP Lena Silling said she earned extra income from a book published in 2024 but did not initially report it because it was under the €5,000 threshold. Her office has now updated the register and submitted a detailed income breakdown.
Spanish EPP MEP Esteban González Pons said he published two books in 2025, but earnings have not yet been verified.
Others did not respond to requests for comment, including Domenico Lucano (Left), who had worked for a film production company; Vladimir Prebilic (Greens), a university lecturer; Katri Kulmuni (Renew); and Finnish EPP MEP Peka Toveri, who runs his own company.
French S&D MEP François Calfon said he had not received any payment from outside work and that all necessary steps were taken to ensure compliance with Parliament’s rules. Estonian EPP MEP Riho Terras said all potential dividends had been declared. Socialist and Democrat MEP Elisabeth Grossman clarified that she has not worked as a lecturer in Vienna since her election.
Spotlight on Transparency
The revelations highlight a persistent challenge in Brussels: ensuring that MEPs’ outside earnings are fully reported and public. Critics say undisclosed income, even from minor or delayed sources, undermines public trust and raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Transparency International says the goal is not to punish individual members but to strengthen transparency rules and ensure all MEPs are held accountable to the same standard.
