Two years after the outburst of the scandal, when Qatar and Morocco were accused of attempting to influence bribery decisions, using intermediate organizations, a new operation against the European Parliament has announced by the Brussels prosecutor.
At the heart of the new case is a former MP who worked in 2021 as Huawei’s Public Affairs Director in the EU and the investigation was linked to the Chinese technological colossus and his activities at that time in Brussels. Specifically, a bribery is being investigated by Huawei lobbyists to members of the European Parliament to promote the Chinese company’s commercial policy in Europe.
More than 100 police officers went to 21 raids across Belgium (Brussels, Flanders, Ballonia) and Portugal, arrests of people working or working for Huawei were made and these people are in questioning.
“Free trips to invitations to football matches are allegedly included in the alleged starting starter and paid to various intermediaries,” the prosecutor’s office said, adding that he was considering whether there was money.
Offices sealed in the European Parliament – In the target of 15 current and former MEPs
As it became known from the Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor’s announcement, the responsible investigator requested to seal the European Parliament areas in Brussels, and in particular the offices available to two parliamentary assistants, who are involved in the investigation case.
Research on bribery, forgery, money laundering and criminal organization has come to publicly released after researchers, who have targeted “about 15 (former and current) MEPs”.
Checks came amid increasing information on the influence of foreign states on EU decision -making.
According to more recent information from the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, the President of the European Parliament was informed of the situation, the investigation is continuing, and an additional suspect was arrested in France, following a European arrest warrant issued against him.
“No comment on research,” European Commission spokesman Tomas Renée replied when asked about the arrests. After questions, he talked about the company involved in the company, saying: “Let me remind me that the safety of 5G networks is obviously vital to our economy. That is why, in our 2023 announcement, the Commission estimated that Huawei represents substantially higher risk than other 5G suppliers. And therefore, the Commission believes that the Member States could make decisions that limit or exclude Huawei from their 5G networks. “
