The Belgian Prosecutor’s Office conducted 21 searches in the Brussels Capital, along with several regions in Flanders and Portugal. The Brussels Examining Magistrate initiated an investigation into corruption allegations within the European Parliament and the Chinese technological company Huawei.

According to the statement, the prosecutor’s office alleged that up to 15 former and current members of the European Parliament (MEPs) had participated in corrupt acts, including forgeries and use of forgeries. The office stated that the investigation began in 2021 and revealed corruption “under the guise of commercial lobbying,” including remuneration for taking political stances and excessive gifts. The office alleges that the corruption intends to prioritize private commercial interests in public decisions. Belgian officials also stated that they would have their eyes out for money laundering.

The office also revealed that the corruption allegations are linked to the Chinese tech giant Huawei. The company told Agence France-Presse that it “has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times.”

As the investigation continues, a parliament spokesperson told Euronews that the parliament implements a temporary ban on Huawei representatives entering its premises.

This bribery scandal comes three years after the Belgian police raided several MEP’s residences following another bribery scandal involving Qatar, where similar allegations were made. Director of Transparency International EU, Nicholas Aiossa, said:

This comes as no surprise as in the wake of the Qatargate scandal, the Parliament simply did not put in the necessary reforms they should have to prevent the next scandal. And here we are today. Until there are rules in place that prevent gifts being received, travel being paid for and lucrative side jobs being held by MEPs, there will always be this risk.

In September 2023, the European Parliament adopted new regulations banning MEPs from taking part in lobbying activities and requiring MEPs to declare association with external actors. Transparency International EU argued that the European Parliament failed to implement a transparent ethics regime. The system continues to allow corruption due to insufficient sanctions and the lack of independent oversight.