Qatar suspected of corruption in the European Parliament: searches at the office of an assistant to Marie Arena

The office of the assistant to Belgian MEP Marie Arena (PS) was searched on Friday evening at the European Parliament in Brussels, the parliamentarian confirmed to Belga. These searches are part of the investigation opened by the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office for alleged acts of corruption within the European institution by a Persian Gulf country.

The assistant, of Italian nationality, was searched at her home earlier in the day and the searches continued at her office in the European Parliament in the evening, said Ms Arena. The assistant’s office is under seal until Monday morning to allow investigators access to her work tools.

Justice must do its job

The assistant was hired regarding a year ago by the Belgian MEP to look into issues relating to Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She previously worked with the NGO Fight Impunity, and it is in the context of this previous job that the searches take place, explained Ms. Arena. Commenting on the investigation opened by the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office, the European parliamentarian assures “to be for transparency. So if there are facts of corruption or interference, they must be brought to light, justice must do its job”.

The spokesperson for the Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella (PS) for his part specified to Belga that there were no seals targeting the office of this parliamentarian either. Seals, however, relate to an office located in the same corridor of the European Parliament, occupied by a former assistant to Mr. Tarabella. This assistant also worked for several years with the former Italian MEP Pier-Antonio Panzeri (S&D), founder and president of the NGO Fight Impunity.

The Greek Eva Kaili was expelled from her party

This assistant is currently an employee linked to the S&D group and the companion of the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili (S&D), says Le Soir, which, with the weekly Knack, revealed that searches and arrests were taking place in Brussels in the context of a judicial investigation opened for alleged acts of criminal organization, corruption and money laundering. Greek Eva Kaili was expelled from her party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), on Friday evening. In all, sixteen searches were carried out in Ixelles, Schaerbeek, Crainhem, Forest and Brussels and four people were taken for a hearing, confirmed the federal prosecutor’s office. They might then be brought before the investigating judge in charge of the investigation.