Five people have been charged in the European Parliament’s latest corruption investigation, which centers on alleged foreign influence. Four of the individuals have been arrested and charged with active corruption and being part of a criminal organization, while the fifth faces money laundering charges but was not detained.
The charges follow a large-scale operation on March 13, 2025, where around 100 police officers searched 21 properties linked to MEPs and their staff. The investigation focuses on claims that certain individuals lobbied for Chinese tech giant Huawei’s interests in exchange for perks.
On March 18, the four detained individuals appeared before a pre-trial chamber, which extended their detention. Another round of searches on March 17 targeted offices in the European Parliament, including those of Paolo Campisi and Francesco Vasta, assistants to Italian MEP Marco Falcone, and Adam Mouchtar, assistant to Bulgarian MEP Nikola Minchev. There’s no indication that any of these individuals are involved in wrongdoing.
Authorities are investigating whether Huawei tried to influence about 15 MEPs, reportedly offering tickets to football games, luxury trips to China, smartphones, meals, gifts, and even large sums of money in exchange for favorable treatment. Huawei has denied any wrongdoing, with a spokesperson emphasizing the company’s commitment to following all laws.
For now, the investigation continues, and all individuals charged are presumed innocent.
