The authorities in Belgium have intensified their crackdown on corruption within European institutions, launching a series of raids in connection with political misconduct and lobbying groups.
Belgian police launched a series of sweeping operations on Thursday, raiding multiple locations across the country as part of an investigation into suspected corruption disguised as commercial lobbying.
According to Belgium's federal prosecutor's office, several individuals have been taken in for questioning over their "alleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as forgery and the use of forgeries".
The large-scale operation involved around 100 police officers and saw some 21 searches – conducted in Belgium and Portugal – underscoring the serious nature of the probe.
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Belgian newspaper Le Soir and investigative platform Follow the Money report that the investigation is linked to Chinese tech giant Huawei and its lobbying efforts in Brussels since 2021.
The raids mark another major corruption investigation in the corridors of the European Union, following the high-profile "Qatargate" scandal more than two years ago, in which several European lawmakers were accused of accepting bribes to advance the interests of Qatar and Morocco – allegations both nations have firmly denied.
While the Belgian authorities have not disclosed the identities of those involved, they described the alleged corruption as the work of a "criminal organisation" operating discreetly since 2021.
The suspected bribes reportedly took various forms, including financial incentives for political positions, lavish gifts, paid travel expenses, and exclusive invitations to football matches – all aimed at swaying political decisions to benefit private commercial interests.
Prosecutors indicated that these illicit payments were disguised as conference expenses and funnelled through intermediaries.
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Money laundering
They are also examining whether money laundering played a role in the scheme.
At the centre of the allegations is a former parliamentary assistant who was employed at the time as Huawei's EU public affairs director, Belgian media has reported.
Police have detained "several lobbyists," who are expected to appear before a judge for further questioning.
A police source confirmed to French news agency AFP that no current EU lawmakers were among those questioned on Thursday morning.
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Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the European Parliament stated that it "takes note of the information" and remains committed to full cooperation with judicial authorities.
This latest scandal comes as European authorities continue investigating financial misconduct within political circles.
In France, far-right leader Marine Le Pen remains under scrutiny over allegations of misusing EU funds, with prosecutors probing claims that she and her National Rally party improperly allocated parliamentary allowances for personal and political expenses.
(With newswires)
