The horizon of Greek MEP Eva Kaili, imprisoned in an alleged corruption scandal in the European Parliament involving Qatar, darkened on Thursday with her implicated in another case, linked to suspicions of fraud.
Stripped of her vice-presidency of the European Parliament on Tuesday, the 44-year-old elected socialist is currently detained in Belgium as part of a “corruption, money laundering and criminal organization file” within the European institution.
The affair caused shock waves in Brussels and Strasbourg, prompting the president of the assembly, Roberta Metsola, to announce “major reforms” for 2023.
Ms. Kaili is also the subject of a preliminary investigation by the Athens financial prosecutor’s office for “corruption” and “money laundering” in cooperation with Belgian justice, we learned Thursday from a judicial source.
But on a new front, the European public prosecutor’s office on Thursday demanded the lifting of his parliamentary immunity as well as that of another Greek MEP, Maria Spyraki, in a case this time relating to “suspicions of fraud” in the remuneration of assistants parliamentarians.
These suspicions follow a report by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
“I accept with joy the lifting of my immunity to prove that there is not a single euro in dispute”, reacted in a press release Maria Spyraki, an MEP from the EPP (European right), affirming also “no have nothing to do with +Qatargate+”.
-“Dangerous Liaisons”-
Implicated in the investigation for corruption instructed in Brussels, the companion of Ms. Kaili, Francesco Giorgi, is also in preventive detention, as is the former MEP Pier-Antonio Panzeri.
A third man, Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, head of the NGO “No Peace Without Justice”, was to be released by wearing an electronic bracelet.
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary Luca Visentini, who spent 48 hours in police custody over the case before being released on Sunday, stepped down from his post, pending a council meeting general of the ITUC next week, the trade union organization announced on Thursday.
During a European summit in Brussels, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola announced that she was “in the process of finalizing a package of far-reaching reforms which will be ready at the beginning of next year”.
She mentioned in particular the strengthening of the protection of whistleblowers and the prohibition of unofficial friendship groups with third countries.
“There are gaps that need to be filled, for example with regard to the activities of former members of the European Parliament, entries in the transparency register, people authorized to enter the European Parliament”, he said. she added during a press conference.
Meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs for their part voted almost unanimously on Thursday for a text in which they “urge the suspension of the access permits of representatives of Qatari interests” while the judicial investigations are under way. This decision will be up to Ms. Metsola.
The Maltese official has already specified that the NGO “No Peace Without Justice” had seen its access suspended.
Saying they were “dismayed” by these alleged acts of corruption and money laundering, MEPs also decided to suspend “all work on legislative files relating to Qatar”, in the first place those concerning visa liberalization for Qatar. and Kuwait and an aviation agreement.
At the end of the judicial inquiry, the parliamentarians also undertook to “create a commission of inquiry (…) on cases of corruption and abuse by third countries” to influence the European Parliament.
“It is high time to finally move forward on the issues of transparency and ethics”, commented French elected representative Manon Aubry (radical left), adding that she had “relentlessly denounced the dangerous liaisons between elected officials and lobbyists who weaken the confidence of the citizens”.
In response to a question, Roberta Metsola said at a press conference that she had declined an invitation from Qatar to attend the FIFA World Cup. “I declined because I have concerns regarding this country,” she said.
She said she had “two meetings with representatives of the Qatari government in Brussels”, and “refused” a request from this country to address the European Parliament.
Doha has denied being involved in any bribery attempts.
