In April 2023, former Luxembourgish lawmaker Monica Semedo was fined by an internal legislative committee for her treatment of a staff member in a bullying incident, leading the Parliament to rule in favor of the victim. After the committee’s decision, Semedo said in 2023 she would bring the ruling to the CJEU in an effort to overturn it.
In March 2025, nearly two years after the second alleged incident was put forth to the court, it annulled the decision by Parliament President Roberta Metsola to fine Semedo due to “irregularities affecting Ms. Semedo’s rights of defence.” The ruling points to Semedo’s being given a summary of the alleged victim’s testimony rather than a transcript, and to her lack of access to the content of documents used to make the decision.
“This says a lot about the quality of the work of the European Parliament’s anti-harassment committee, which acts in a totally biased manner, violating all the fundamental rights of the persons concerned … the way this committee operates must be completely reviewed,” Semedo told POLITICO.
The internal process, used primarily by staffers to lawmakers, is biased in favor of bosses, a 2023 POLITICO investigation found. Many MEPs operated in the halls of the Parliament with impunity, POLITICO reported. Around the same time, the Parliament announced a revamp of anti-harassment reforms.
For some, it was not enough.
“Given these series of rulings by the court, the Parliament must develop more robust internal frameworks on anti-harassment and whistleblower protections,” said Transparency International Director Nick Aiossa.
