EU corruption scandal of 'utmost concern' after four charged over alleged bribes from Qatar, von der Leyen says

The EU corruption scandal is of the “utmost concern” after investigators charged four people with allegedly receiving money and gifts from Qatar, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.

Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock has said “the credibility of Europe” is at stake due to the allegations which the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has described as “very worrisome”.

Belgian investigators are looking into allegations 2022 World Cup host Qatar lavished cash and gifts on European Parliament officials to influence decision-making.

Prosecutors searched 16 houses and seized €600,000 (£516,000) in Brussels on Friday as part of the probe.

Four people were arrested and charged with “participation in a criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption”,
prosecutors said in a statement on Sunday.

They did not name the suspects, but a source close to the case said one of the European Parliament’s vice presidents,
Greek socialist Eva Kaili, was among those charged.

The European Parliament said at the weekend it had suspended Ms Kaili from her duties in light of the investigation, while the Greek socialist PASOK party announced it was expelling her from its ranks.

Prosecutors said they had suspected for months that a Gulf state was trying to influence decision-making in Brussels.

A source with knowledge of the case said the state was Qatar.

‘Full force of the law’

“The allegations are of utmost concern, very serious,” Ms von der Leyen told reporters on Monday, reiterating that she was also proposing the creation of an independent ethics body to cover EU institutions.

Meanwhile, Ms Baerbock told reporters as she arrived for a meeting with her EU counterparts in Brussels on Monday: “This is an unbelievable incident which has to be cleared up completely with the full force of law.

“This is about the credibility of Europe, so this has to trigger consequences in various areas.”

Mr Borrell said as he arrived at the meeting: “Certainly the news is very worrisome.

“We are facing some events, some facts that certainly worries me as a former president of the European Parliament, also.”

Ireland’s foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said the news was “damaging”.

He added: “This is a scandal that we need to expose the truth around so we can ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky said: “It is absolutely unacceptable, any kind of corruption.”

Suspended EU politician praises Qatar

A Qatari official denied accusations of possible misconduct at the weekend.

“Any association of the Qatari government with the reported claims is baseless and gravely misinformed,” the official said.

The investigation comes as Qatar is in the global spotlight as it hosts the World Cup, amid criticism from human rights groups.

In a speech in the European Parliament on 21 November as the World Cup was starting, Ms Kaili said: “Qatar is a frontrunner in labour rights.

“They committed to a vision by choice and they opened to the world. Still some here are calling to discriminate them.
They bully them and they accuse everyone that talks to them or engages (with them) of corruption.”

Meanwhile, some European diplomats told Reuters last month that pressure to maintain good ties with Qatar was increasing as the continent headed towards a winter of energy shortages because of the war in Ukraine.

The European Parliament was due to vote this week on a proposal to extend visa-free travel to the EU for Kuwait, Qatar,
Oman and Ecuador.

Some politicians have suggested the debate and vote should be postponed. Others have called for a debate on the corruption raids.

The European Parliament is set to look at both requests in a session on Monday afternoon.

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