In the early hours of Thursday, Belgian federal police launched raids as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption within the European Parliament. The investigation is focused on charges of active corruption, forgery of documents, and money laundering, according to the Belgian Prosecutor’s office.
The police conducted searches at 21 locations in Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia, and Portugal, resulting in several arrests. Investigators are reportedly focusing on around 15 former and current Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
This new scandal comes on the heels of the “Qatargate” scandal from December 2022, where Qatar was accused of influencing EU decision-making through bribes and gifts. The current investigation is believed to be connected to the Chinese tech giant Huawei, with reports suggesting that Belgian authorities are probing its operations in Brussels.
Sources from Huawei’s main lobbying office in Brussels confirmed that police entered the premises on Thursday morning. The investigation is linked to concerns about Huawei’s influence on European institutions, particularly regarding Chinese state interests.
The European Parliament has expressed its commitment to cooperate fully with judicial authorities. However, the latest developments have sparked outrage among European lawmakers. Manon Aubrey, co-chair of The Left group, condemned the allegations, calling them an indication of European institutions’ failure to ensure integrity and protect democracy.
Dutch liberal Bart Groothuis called for a decisive response from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, emphasizing that the credibility of the institution is at stake. Meanwhile, Daniel Freund, a member of the Greens, criticized the EU’s inadequate corruption prevention measures, urging for strict punishment and even a ban on Huawei’s presence during the investigation.
