Belgian prosecutors have asked the European Parliament to lift the immunity of several MEPs as part of an investigation into alleged bribery by Huawei, in the latest sign of a deepening scandal, Euractiv reports.
Authorities suspect the Chinese telecommunications giant of using football tickets, gifts, luxury trips and possibly cash to buy influence in Brussels. The large-scale investigation has further undermined confidence in the parliament, which is still reeling from “Qatargate,” a bribery scandal that erupted in 2022.
All politicians involved in the case, as well as Huawei, deny any wrongdoing.
EPP MEP Salvatore De Meo confirmed to Euractiv that he is among the MEPs whose immunity has been requested by Belgium as part of the investigation into alleged secret payments.
“In my case,” De Meo said, “it concerns a social gathering, not organised by Huawei, held outside the European Parliament, where Huawei representatives were allegedly present. I have never taken a position in favour of Huawei, either in the form of signing letters, submitting amendments, or any legislative activity attributable to their interests.”
At this point, three MEPs have confirmed that the Belgian authorities want the Parliament to lift their immunity.
Maltese socialist Daniel Attard and Bulgarian Renew lawmaker Nikola Minchev have publicly acknowledged that they are under investigation.
Daniel Attard, a Maltese socialist, wrote on Facebook on Monday that the Belgians want answers about his attendance at a Europa League football match in Brussels last September, which he attended thanks to corporate tickets provided by Huawei. He said he did not know that the tickets for the Anderlecht match had been provided by Huawei.
“It has since emerged that the invitation came from a person who is currently under investigation by the Belgian authorities and who intended to speak to me about Huawei during the match,” Attard wrote.
The MEP discussed Huawei with this person and later met with him in Strasbourg.
“I firmly reject any implication of wrongdoing,” he wrote in a letter to Parliament President Roberta Metsola that he also published.
Nikola Minchev, a Member of the European Parliament from the Bulgarian Renewal Party, said that the Belgian prosecutor’s office wants to strip him of his immunity because of his ties to former aide Adam Mouchtar, whose parliamentary office was sealed by police in March.
“I would like to emphasise that there is no charge or accusation against me,” Minchev wrote in a statement. Like Attard, he wrote that he was invited to an Anderlecht football game last October. He added: “The organiser turned out to be among those involved in the investigation that had begun years ago.”
In March, Fulvio Martusciello, an assistant to Italian EPP MP De Meo, was also arrested. According to Euractiv, the Belgian authorities are also seeking to lift the immunity of other MEPs.
