Akhir 26, 1432 H/March 31, 2011, SPA -- European Parliament leaders have decided to tighten rules for legislators and lobbyists in the wake of a bribery scandal that forced two parliamentarians to resign, AP reported. The leaders said Thursday they will strenghten the code of conduct rules on relations between legislators and outside lobbyists seeking to influence lawmaking. Under Thursday's agreement, a working group of legislators will set up proposals which will have to be agreed by the full house. So far, two European Parliament lawmakers from Austria and Slovenia have resigned and a third, from Romania, has stepped down from his position as deputy chairman of the Social Democracy Party after a British newspaper reported last week they had agreed to propose legislation in return for bribes. -- SPA
