Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Today, Saturday, new details were revealed regarding what had been announced about allegations of a bribery and corruption scandal in the European Parliament, and the arrest of four people for questioning in this file by the Belgian Public Prosecutor’s Office. A former member of the European Parliament and a leader in an international labor movement, according to the Belgian media reported today, Saturday, "The Federal Prosecutor of our country is investigating the possible bribery of members of the European Parliament by Qatar. These people were also arrested after a series of house searches during which they were found On 600 thousand euros in cash... Investigators from the Federal Judicial Police have suspected for several months that a country from the Arab Gulf is trying to influence economic and political decision-making in the European Parliament.The specific country that is trying to intervene is not mentioned, but it is Qatar that is currently hosting the World Cup.According to Today's Belgian Newspaper website
And additions. On December 1, the European Parliament voted to grant citizens of Qatar visa-free access to Europe. A large majority was found to be in favor. Was that under undue influence? The proposal is awaiting approval by the European Council.
Four people were arrested during Friday's searches. One of them is Eva Kaili, who has been one of the fourteen vice-presidents of the European Parliament since this year and is responsible for relations with the Middle East. The Greek Social Democratic lawmaker was expelled from her party later Friday. She was a television presenter and a member of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). Her partner, as well as former Italian MP Antonio Panziri, also a member of S&D, was also questioned.
According to rumors, the court also arrested one of the lobbyists, Luca Visentini. This is the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) which has 200 million members worldwide.
"The four people have been transferred for questioning and can be brought before the investigating judge," the Federal Prosecutor's Office said.
Computers, smartphones and around 600,000 euros in cash were also confiscated during house searches. Half a million euros of that could have been found at Panziri's home. Investigators raided the office of the Belgian parliamentary aide Marie Arena on Friday evening. The Italian aide's house had already been searched. The office is closed until Monday morning.
The assistant in question was hired about a year ago to work on cases involving Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Arena said that she previously worked for the non-governmental organization Fight Impunity, of which Panziri is the founder and president, and in the course of the previous job she conducts searches.
Speaking about the investigation by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office, the MEP said it "is for transparency. So if there are facts of corruption or interference, they must be brought to light and justice must do its job."
After that, a house search was carried out in the office of the former assistant to the Belgian Parliament Marc Tarabella (PS) in the European Parliament, which was also closed. This associate has also worked with Panzeri for several years and is said to be the partner of the aforementioned Eva Kaili. A spokesman for Tarabella said the office had not been searched.