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Amid several high-profile ethical scandals, the EU has been discussing since the early 2000s theestablishment of a dedicated EU ethics authority capable of restoring trust in its institutions. Thisarticle provides one of the first assessments of the newly adopted EU Interinstitutional Body forEthical Standards by examining whether and how it can contribute to strengthening the existing EUpublic integrity system. After tracing its genesis and evolution, it first identifies the major structurallimitations of the extant EU ethical framework, ranging from its high fragmentation across EU insti-tutions, weak enforcement of its underlying standards to its limited awareness within both the EUinstitutional setting and wider public. Second, it assesses whether the newly adopted EU ethicalbody may address and overcome those structural limitations and how it may do so. It concludes that,despite its limited investigative and sanctioning powers, the first dedicated Interinstitutional Bodyfor Ethical Standards carries the potential to mark a qualitative difference in the development of theEU public integrity system as we know it. Through a combination of its standard-setting, advisoryand awareness-raising functions, the Body may profoundly alter both the ethical standards and theirenforcement for participating institutions' members and beyond
