Belgian spies were investigating foreign meddling in EU when they uncovered Qatar bribery scandal

Belgian spies who uncovered the Qatar bribery scandal allegedly involving a European Vice President did so amid investigations into widespread foreign meddling in the European Union, according to the Belgian justice minister.

Prosecutors suspect Greek MEP Eva Kaili and three others accepted bribes from the World Cup host in a bid to influence EU policymaking.

Belgium’s secret service agents found €700,000 in cash stashed away in the house of a former Italian MEP after gaining entry to his house, pulling the string that has unravelled one of the biggest scandals to ever hit the 27-nation bloc. 

The country’s justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne told Belgian newspaper Le Soir of the investigation: ‘It was a game-changer that state security has been working on for more than a year, together with foreign intelligence services, to map suspected bribery of MEPs by various countries.’

Previous investigations led by Brussels into suspected Russian and Chinese influence in the EU uncovered Kremlin spies operating in positions of trade envoys and diplomats. 

Prosecutors suspect Greek MEP Eva Kaili (pictured) and three others accepted bribes from the World Cup host in a bid to influence EU policymaking

This handout picture released on December 13, 2022 by the Belgian Federal Police shows the money seized at the home of Italian former European Parliament member Pier Antonio Panzeri and at Greek EU parliament vice president Eva Kaili’s flat and in her father’s hotel room

The revelation of the Belgian secret service’s operation came as Francesco Giorgi, the partner of ousted European Parliament vice-president Kaili, confessed his role in a Qatar graft scandal, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Giorgi’s confession to taking bribes from Qatar to influence European Parliament decisions on Qatar had made ‘a significant contribution’ to the probe underway by Belgian investigating magistrates, one of the sources said.

According to the same source, Giorgi, an EU parliamentary assistant, sought to exonerate his partner Kaili from any wrongdoing. 

Greek MEP Kaili, who was ousted from her role as vice president of the European Parliament on Monday, has denied any wrongdoing through her lawyer.

The lawyer for Giorgi, who is currently in detention pending further investigation of the case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Qatar has also denied it had sought to bribe MEPs.

This undated photo shows Greek European Parliament vice president Eva Kaili (R) and her partner Francesco Giorgi

The Belgian police released a photos of the suitcases and boxes full of cash that Eva Kaili’s father had with him when he was arrested outside a hotel in Brussels last week

‘The State of Qatar categorically rejects any attempts to associate it with accusations of misconduct. Any association of the Qatari government with the reported claims is baseless and gravely misinformed,’ a Qatari official said on Thursday.

In his confession, Giorgi also said he suspected Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella had received money from Qatar, a source close to the investigation said.

Tarabella, who had previously confirmed that his home was searched on Saturday as part of the Belgian investigation, has denied any wrongdoing. 

His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

European Parliament’s president Roberta Metsola told EU leaders she would lead reforms to prevent a repeat of a criminal corruption scandal

Giorgi also said he suspected Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino, in whose office Giorgi worked, had received illicit Qatari funds, though cited no proof.

Cozzolino told Italian news agencies: ‘I am not under investigation. I have not been questioned. I have not been searched, nor has my office been sealed.’

The European Parliament on Thursday suspended all work on legislation linked to Qatar, and parliament’s president, Roberta Metsola, told EU leaders she would lead reforms to prevent a repeat of a criminal corruption scandal.

EU lawmakers backed by 541 votes to two a resolution saying they were ‘appalled’ by the alleged corruption and money laundering by one of their number, a former lawmaker and a staff member.

The parliament said it ‘denounces’ the Gulf state’s alleged attempts to seek influence ‘through acts of corruption, which constitute serious foreign interference in the EU’s democratic processes’.