Belgian federal police conducted a series of raids as part of a new corruption investigation targeting the European Parliament, focusing on alleged bribery linked to Chinese tech giant Huawei. The operation involved 100 officers who searched 21 locations across Belgium and Portugal, resulting in the detention of several individuals, including lobbyists, though no EU lawmakers were among those held. The Belgian prosecutor’s office reported that the probe centers on ”active corruption within the European Parliament,” with alleged activities occurring regularly and discreetly from 2021 to the present. These activities include payments for political positions, excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses, and invitations to football matches aimed at promoting private commercial interests. The investigation identified 15 current and former Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) potentially involved, with police sealing offices of two parliamentary assistants—one from the Italian delegation in the European People’s Party (EPP) and another from the Bulgarian delegation in the Renew Europe group. Evidence collection included four boxes of documents and materials seized from Huawei’s Brussels office. Huawei issued a statement affirming its zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and commitment to cooperate with the investigation. Additionally, the European Parliament confirmed its willingness to assist judicial authorities, while the case has prompted calls from transparency advocates for further reforms following the earlier Qatargate scandal.
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