The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office is investigating alleged acts of corruption within the European Parliament, and MEP Marc Tarabella is among those charged in this case. However, Tarabella claims to be innocent and denies any involvement in the corruption. Several other individuals have also been charged in this case, including former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, former Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, lobbyist Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, and Luca Vinsentini, former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.
Luca Visentini and Niccolo Figa-Talamanca were released soon after their interrogation, while Francesco Giorgi obtained the modality of electronic surveillance. Panzeri became a repentant and admitted to receiving money from Qatar to favor this country. He charged Marc Tarabella, claiming that he gave him approximately 140,000 euros for his help in this criminal project.
The investigation, led by the federal prosecutor’s office and examining magistrate Michel Claise, targets attempts by Qatar to influence the economic and political decision-making of the European Parliament. The investigation alleges that Qatar paid large sums of money or offered substantial gifts to individuals occupying a political or strategic position within the European hemicycle. Morocco and Mauritania were also mentioned in the survey.
The MEP is charged, among other people, in the investigation by the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office into alleged acts of corruption within the European Parliament. Marc Tarabella claims to be innocent and denies any involvement in this system of corruption.
Several people have been charged in this case, including Pier Antonio Panzeri, former MEP and founder of the NGO Fight Impunity, Eva Kaili, the former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Francesco Giorgi, her companion and former Panzeri parliamentary assistant, as well as lobbyist Niccolo Figa-Talamanca and Luca Vinsentini, former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. MEP Marc Tarabella is also charged, after being arrested on February 11, 2023, two months after the others.
Luca Visentini was quickly released after his interrogation, then, on February 3, Niccolo Figa-Talamanca was also released. Francesco Giorgi obtained on February 23 to carry out his detention under the modality of electronic surveillance. In addition, Panzeri obtained the status of repentant on January 17, and thus undertook to collaborate actively with the investigation. He admitted having received money from Qatar in particular, to favor this country in the decisions taken by the European Parliament. He, among other things, charged Marc Tarabella, claiming to have given him a sum of around 140,000 euros for his “help” in this criminal project.
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.
The investigation into acts of corruption within the European Parliament continues, with several people charged and one MEP, Marc Tarabella, arrested. Tarabella maintains his innocence and denies any involvement in the corruption. The investigation centers around attempts by Qatar to influence decision-making within the European Parliament, with several individuals accused of accepting large sums of money or gifts in exchange for political favors. The investigation is ongoing, and we will continue to monitor any developments.