Parliament approved a resolution that urge EU-wide sanctions against corruption because it costs the EU economy €120 billion per year, almost as much as the EU's annual budget. Also, MEPs requested enhancing transparency in order to prevent and fight corruption that infiltrates in politics and the media.

The European Parliament calls for EU-wide sanctions against corruption in a resolution. Thus Parliament is also urging the Council to ensure the necessary political commitment to combat corruption and to take measures against it. MEPs want an EU-wide definition of corruption given its cross-border dimension. Moreover, they consider that harmonised rules on the protection of whistleblowers and the criminalisation of illicit enrichment are also needed.

In addition, Parliament urges the Commission to step up the fight against corruption and to bring forward its assessment of anti-corruption efforts in the EU to 2012, sooner than proposed in its anti-corruption package presented in June. Meanwhile the Commission has promised to draw up new "anti-corruption reports" that give a clear picture of anti-corruption efforts and achievements, but also point out failures and vulnerabilities across the 27 EU Member States and identify trends and weaknesses that need to be addressed. Also last June presented its strategy for combating corruption with a package of measures.

Besides MEPs underline that, to fight corruption, there should be more openness in financial transactions, especially those involving tax havens. They call on all EU institutions and Member States to improve transparency by drawing up codes of conduct or improving existing ones, with, as a minimum, clear rules banning conflicts of interest. They should also take action in preventing and fighting corruption infiltrating politics and the media, including by enhancing transparency and supervision of financing and funding.