EU-Qatar: bribery probe

The European Parliament is reeling from a burgeoning investigation into alleged corruption involving lawmakers, the Gulf state of Qatar and a suitcase full of cash, Bloomberg writes. Eva Kaili, a Greek lawmaker and a vice president of the European Parliament, was arrested in the probe, along with Antonio Panzeri, a former Italian deputy, according to media reports. Police seized at least €750,000 ($793,090), in addition to several hundred thousand euros stuffed in a suitcase, Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement Monday. 

Belgian police carried out a search Monday at the European Parliament to seize data of 10 parliamentary staff that had been frozen to prevent its disappearance, according to the statement. A total of 20 searches have been carried out as part of the probe, including some in Italy. 

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola pledged to “shake up” the institution in an address on Monday, saying she’ll start an internal investigation and also look at whistle-blower systems to see how they can be made stronger. 

As a precautionary measure, Metsola said that a vice president mentioned in the investigation — “with full respect for presumption of innocence,” — has been stripped of any tasks and responsibilities related to the role, and steps will be taken to end the person’s term as vice president.

The investigation needs to be pursued “with the full force of the law,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Monday. “This concerns Europe’s credibility, hence we need consequences in various areas,” she told reporters in Brussels. “We haven’t seen the likes of this in a long time.”

 Charged

Belgian federal police raided several homes and apartments of lawmakers and aides starting Friday in an probe that prosecutors said involved large sums of money being paid to influence the decisions of the European Parliament. Qatar and Morocco were cited in some of the legal documents, according to a person familiar with the matter. Four people were charged with corruption and money laundering. 

Greece’s anti-money-laundering authority has ordered the freezing of all of Kaili’s personal assets, such as properties, bank accounts and more, as well as those of her husband and family, according to a person familiar with the matter. Banks and state authorities have already been notified by the authority for its decision.

The home of a second parliament member, Belgium’s Marc Tarabella, was also searched over the weekend, but he wasn’t charged or taken into custody, according to Le Soir.

The probe is unfolding as Qatar is in the spotlight as host of the World Cup football tournament and is being courted by European governments eager to boost their purchases of natural gas. Investigators suspect that the payments were part of a broader effort by Qatar to burnish its image amid harsh criticism of its labor and human rights practices, according to media reports.

“If confirmed, it would mean MEPs and activists received money to turn a blind eye on workers’ conditions in Qatar,” EU economy commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said Sunday on Italian TV, referring to members of parliament. “It’s an embarrassment and it’s unacceptable.”

A Qatari official said the government rejected any connection to accusations of misconduct and that any association with the allegations is baseless. The official added that the government fully complies with international laws and regulations. 

A spokesperson for the European Parliament said the institution doesn’t comment on judicial proceedings but fully cooperates with national authorities, including in this case. They didn’t immediately comment on the lawmakers arrested. Kaili’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment and Tarabella couldn’t be reached for comment. 

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the reports of the investigation were very worrisome. “We are very much, certainly, concerned about these news,” he told reporters Monday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said officials are reviewing meetings that commissioners and senior officials had that might be relevant to the investigation and she renewed her proposal from March to create an ethics body that would cover all European institutions and apply uniform rules.  “The allegations against the vice president of the European Parliament are of utmost concern, very serious,” she told reporters Monday. “It is a question of confidence of people into our institutions and this confidence and trust into our institutions needs higher standards of independence and integrity.”