Marc Tarabella is facing charges in relation to an investigation by the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office which is focusing on alleged acts of corruption within the European Parliament. Meanwhile, Antonio Panzeri, an Italian individual implicated in the Qatargate scandal, is set to be released from prison. Mr. Tarabella’s lawyer has stated that his client is available to the investigators and the investigating judge should they require further information, but the Belgian MEP has consistently denied any involvement with the corruption allegations. The investigation is being conducted by the federal prosecutor’s office and overseen by examining magistrate Michel Claise. Its focus is on attempts by Qatar to influence the European Parliament’s economic and political decision-making, with allegations that the country has offered large sums of money or gifts to individuals holding political or strategic positions within the institution. The investigation has also encompassed Morocco and Mauritania.
Marc Tarabella is charged in the investigation by the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office into alleged acts of corruption within the European Parliament.
“It remains of course at the disposal of the investigators and the investigating judge”, commented Mr. Tarabella’s lawyer “if, by chance, they felt they needed further information”. The Belgian MEP has said, since the start of the investigation, that he has nothing to do with this corruption affair.
The investigation in this file is led by the federal prosecutor’s office and entrusted to the examining magistrate Michel Claise. It targets attempts by Qatar to influence the economic and political decision-making of the European Parliament. This Middle Eastern state would have paid large sums of money or offered substantial gifts to people occupying a political or strategic position within the European hemicycle. Morocco also appeared in the survey, as did Mauritania.
As the investigation into alleged acts of corruption within the European Parliament continues, Marc Tarabella remains charged by the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office. However, the Belgian MEP has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. The probe, which is led by the examining magistrate Michel Claise, aims to uncover attempts by Qatar to influence the decisions of the European Parliament through bribery and gifts. Morocco and Mauritania have also been implicated in the investigation. We will continue to monitor the developments of this investigation as they unfold.
