Belgian authorities have formally requested the European Parliament to revoke the immunity of several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and influence peddling involving the Chinese technology company Huawei.
The request pertains to five parliamentarians: three affiliated with the European People’s Party (EPP), one representing the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and one from Renew Europe. The investigation commenced two months ago following searches conducted in the offices of the European Parliament.
The Belgian Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against eight individuals, alleging suspicions of money laundering, involvement in an organized criminal enterprise, and active corruption. The accusations against the MEPs involve their alleged participation in corrupt practices in exchange for lobbying efforts on behalf of Huawei and endorsing legislation beneficial to the company.
While the complete list of implicated MEPs has not yet been disclosed, several parliamentarians have come forward to confirm that a request to revoke their immunity has been submitted. Italian lawmaker Salvatore de Meo (EPP), Maltese MEP Daniel Attard (S&D), and Bulgarian parliamentarian Nikola Minchev (Renew Europe) have all acknowledged being targeted by Belgian authorities.
Minchev explained, “This is related to the investigation into my former assistant. The Belgian prosecution has not made any specific accusations against me, but wants to check whether anything improper may have taken place.” He mentioned that he attended a football match, and the tickets were sourced by someone connected to his former assistant, who had ties to Huawei. Minchev has requested that his immunity be lifted to facilitate clarity on the matter.
“The Belgian authorities want to verify whether anything inappropriate occurred. That’s why I’m calling for my immunity to be lifted as quickly as possible, so the matter can be clarified and it becomes clear that I have nothing to do with any unauthorized or illegal activity,” he stated.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is expected to officially announce the names of the MEPs under investigation during the plenary session on Wednesday. As the investigation unfolds, the implications for European politics and governance remain significant, particularly regarding transparency and accountability in the face of allegations involving major international corporations.
