New "Qatargate" in the heart of the EU. 15 MEPs allegedly took bribes to favor Huawei

The shadow of a new “Catargate” has fallen over the European Parliament. Brussels media reports that Belgian federal police have searched the homes and offices of 21 people as part of a corruption investigation involving the European Parliament, which focuses on Chinese technology giant Huawei.

"We can confirm that we have an ongoing investigation into preliminary allegations of active corruption, document forgery and money laundering in the European Parliament," a spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutor's office told Politico.

This morning, around 100 investigators from the federal judicial police, on the orders of a financial investigator and the federal prosecutor's office, searched 21 addresses in the regions of Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia, as well as in Portugal.

It is also reported that several people have been arrested, including the former assistant of the two Italians.

Almost all of those arrested are lobbyists linked to the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, suspected of bribing several MEPs to favor Huawei's interests in the union countries.

Belgian justice suspects that lobbyists for the Chinese company Huawei have bribed around 15 MEPs (current or former) to promote the company's trade policy in Europe.

The new corruption scandal in the European Parliament erupts more than two years after the "Qatargate" affair.

In an official statement, the European Parliament confirmed that it has taken note of the investigation and will cooperate fully with the judicial authorities whenever requested.

The scandal brings back to the forefront concerns about foreign influence in EU institutions, particularly in the wake of Qatargate, where Qatar is alleged to have influenced EU decision-making through bribes and gifts to European officials.

The issue is taking on new dimensions after, according to Politico, Belgian intelligence services had already launched investigations into the role of Chinese technology company Huawei in Brussels.

The Belgian State Security Service (VSSE) had sought to question former employees of the company, looking into the possibility of Chinese interference. Belgium is responsible for the security of EU institutions and has taken control of possible influence operations by foreign actors inside Brussels.