European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stated that the reforms implemented in the wake of the Qatargate scandal played a crucial role in identifying the alleged Huawei bribery scandal earlier.
In her first public comments on the latest corruption case, Metsola stressed the importance of maintaining transparency while ensuring robust rules were in place to prevent and detect misconduct.
Speaking at a relaunch event, Metsola highlighted the 14-point reform plan introduced after the Qatargate scandal broke in December 2022. The reforms, she said, created “alarm bells” that enabled the Parliament and law enforcement to identify and address corruption more effectively.
It is also thanks to the rules that we put in that these things can get caught and can get caught earlier.
Metsola added that she chose to implement reforms rather than ignore the issue, despite the inevitability of some individuals attempting to break the rules.
Huawei scandal
The European Parliament is currently embroiled in a new corruption scandal involving Chinese tech giant Huawei. Belgian federal prosecutors have charged four individuals with “active corruption, forgery of documents, and money laundering” as part of an alleged cash-for-influence campaign by Huawei.
Raids were conducted at the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday, following earlier searches on 13 March. In response, the Parliament banned Huawei lobbyists from its premises on 14 March, and the European Commission instructed its staff to halt all contact with the company.
The Parliament has been aware of Huawei’s potential risks since 2023, when Metsola’s office raised concerns about the company’s activities in Belgium. Metsola revealed that the Parliament’s safety department had contacted Belgian authorities to gather information on “potential threats posed by Huawei’s activities in Belgium and, in particular, the risks for the European Parliament.”
The action followed warnings from two MEPs about Huawei’s alleged involvement in China’s influence operations in Europe, which they described as “particularly concerning in the context of the Qatargate scandal.”
The reforms introduced after Qatargate have not only strengthened the Parliament’s ability to detect corruption but also demonstrated its resolve to uphold transparency and accountability.
