Brussels ends its most frantic year with a scandalous bang
By Euronews Brussels bureau
Just when we thought the days leading to the winter holidays would be placid, uncomplicated and stress-free, Brussels comes back with its greatest vengeance.
The EU’s de-facto capital has chosen to cap its most frantic year in recent memory with a jaw-dropping, eye-popping and mind-bending corruption scandal that has sent shockwaves all across the continent.
Greek MEP Eva Kaili has been placed under arrest by Belgian police, suspected of accepting “large sums of money” and “substantial gifts,” allegedly by Qatar, in order to influence the European Parliament’s decision-making process.
Kaili’s partner, Francesco Giorgi; former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri; and Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, secretary general of No Peace Without Justice, were too detained and charged with participation in a criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering.
The news of Kaili, a legislator who was seen as a rising star in the socialist group, being reportedly caught in the act made time in Brussels stand still. The images that emerged from the police raids – bags and suitcases brimming with at least €1.5 million in cash – only added to the city’s bewilderment and insatiable curiosity.
The murmur quickly turned into open-air speculation: How long has the scheme been going on? Who tipped off the police? How many MEPs are actually involved?
So far, details are scarce and tightly controlled by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, leaving journalists to put the pieces of the astonishing puzzle together. A pre-trial hearing on Wednesday failed to offer any big hints, besides the fact that Kaili herself did not show up and ask for a postponement.
With the courts off limits, all eyes turn to one of the potential crime scenes: the European Parliament, where several offices have been sealed and computers have been confiscated.
“Make no mistake, the European Parliament, dear colleague, is under attack. European democracy is under attack,” President Roberta Metsola said while addressing the scandal for the first time.
“Corruption cannot pay and we have played our part in ensuring these plans could not materialise.”
Although Metsola praised the European Parliament’s own services for having acted “in sync” with national authorities, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo was quick to disagree.
“Apparently, Belgian justice is doing what the European Parliament has failed to do,” De Croo told reporters, in a thinly veiled swipe.
Other leaders have come forward to chastise the hemicycle and secure the high moral ground in the story. The Parliament, in turn, replied with a resolution calling for an EU-wide on political donations from countries outside the bloc. In the meantime, Qatar has distanced itself from the disgraced legislator and denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
And on Thursday afternoon, the European Chief Prosecutor requested the lifting of immunity of two Greek MEPs, including Kaili, but it’s unclear if this petition is related to the scandal.
If you’re still struggling to digest this dizzying succession of twists and turns, we have more news from Brussels: this week also saw another failed round of negotiations to cap gas prices, the first-ever decision to freeze EU funds allocated to a member state (in this case, Hungary), an EU-ASEAN summit (which Emmanuel Macron did not attend because he flew to Qatar to watch the World Cup semi-final) and last, but certainly not least, a meeting of the European Council, mainly centred on Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (which, for the record, Macron did attend).
“Let us never forget the bigger picture. A war is raging at the borders of our Union. Russia is escalating its attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. And the brave people of Ukraine need all our help,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said ahead of the summit.
“Therefore, it is not the time for a trade war with our closest partner and ally. It is time for our democracies to join forces even more, to stand up for Ukraine.”
ALL ABOUT EVA Our Brussels bureau is fully mobilised to cover the latest developments of the Eva Kaili scandal. Jorge Liboreiro has a profile of the Greek MEP on everyone's lips and a deeper look into the repercussions for her political family: the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). Alice Tidey examines how the scandal exposed the shortcomings of the EU’s lobbying rules. And Lauren Chadwick has a recap on all we know so far.
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The Briefing: A scandalous bang
