(AGENPARL) – lun 10 luglio 2023 [Go to the page](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room)
Press service
European Parliament
Available in
Press release
10-07-2023
• New mediation service to support Members and staff in resolving difficult relational situations
• Agreement to have mandatory training for MEPs for a well-functioning team
• Agreement to review of the rules on the functioning of the Advisory Committee dealing with harassment complaints concerning Members, including increased protection and shorter procedures
Today’s Bureau agreement reaffirms Parliament’s commitment as an employer to offer a safe and inclusive working environment, where there is zero tolerance towards inappropriate behaviour.
In January 2023, President Metsola mandated the Quaestors to work on proposals to reinforce Parliament’s anti-harassment policies. Building on the recommendations of the Quaestors, the Bureau decided on 10 July to establish a mediation service and gave its political backing to the introduction of mandatory training for Members. The Bureau also agreed to improve the existing procedure of the Advisory Committee dealing with harassment complaints concerning Members.
President Metsola underlined “Places of work must be safe and dignified. Improving and incentivising anti-harassment policies in the Parliament was always a priority for me. It forms part of my objective to reform the European Parliament to make it more efficient, transparent and fairer. And this reform has the potential to deliver. It pays special attention to measures that will better protect victims, it speeds up the processes and it focuses on prevention, through training and mediation”.
New mediation service in the European Parliament
The decision establishes a mediation service to support Members and staff in resolving difficult relational situations and to maintain a positive and collaborative working environment, where conflicts are prevented or solved at an early stage. The established mediation service will act independently and be based on the universal principles of mediation: confidentiality, voluntariness, informality and self-determination.
Mandatory training for Members
In order to provide 360-degree support to Members, training on “How to create a good and well-functioning team”, consisting of five different modules, should be mandatory for Members and offered at the beginning and throughout their mandate as of next spring.
The content of the modules will cover the recruitment of assistants, successful team management, including conflict prevention and early conflict resolution, administrative and financial aspects of parliamentary assistance as well as harassment prevention.
Revision of the functioning of the Advisory Committee