BRUSSELS — Belgian federal prosecutors declared on Thursday the arrest of several individuals in connection with a corruption investigation centered around the European Parliament and the telecom firm Huawei, which is accused of influencing EU lawmakers through bribery.
A joint investigation by Le Soir newspaper and other media outlets has suggested that lobbyists representing Huawei may have provided bribes to both current and former members of the European Parliament to steer the company’s business initiatives in Europe.
A statement from the prosecutor’s office indicated that corruption allegations have supposedly benefited Huawei extensively.
During the operation, approximately 100 federal police officers conducted 21 searches in locations including Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia, and Portugal. Offices within the EU Parliament, designated for two parliamentary aides allegedly involved, were ordered sealed by the magistrate in charge of the ongoing inquiry.
Moreover, authorities confirmed an additional arrest in France. Those detained are set to face questioning regarding alleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, along with forgery and using forged documents. Authorities claim the infractions were perpetrated by a criminal organization.
Huawei addressed the accusations, stating they are treating the matter with seriousness and intend to engage with investigators to gain a clearer understanding of the claims. The company upholds a strict policy against corruption and commits to adhering to all relevant legal and regulatory standards.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament acknowledged receipt of the allegations and assured of its full cooperation with judicial proceedings.
Huawei, a major player in smartphone manufacturing and the largest producer of network equipment for carriers, is entangled in broader geopolitical tensions involving the United States and China over technology and trade concerns.
Following the U.S.’s lead, some European countries have barred the use of Huawei tech in budding next-generation mobile networks, citing potential security risks conducive to Chinese espionage—an accusation Huawei consistently rebuffs.
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier commented the EU’s executive branch had no direct comment on the ongoing investigation. However, Regnier highlighted ongoing security issues tied to Huawei’s involvement in Europe’s 5G mobile networks, urging EU members to take decisive steps to limit or exclude Huawei from their 5G infrastructure.
The prosecutor’s office suspects that corrupt activities occurred from 2021 onwards in numerous forms, including financial incentives for specific political stances and excessive gifts like paid travel or frequent event invitations. They are investigating whether payments were camouflaged as business costs or funneled through third parties, with a focused effort to detect potential money laundering.
Police confiscated numerous documents and items throughout the raid, while Huawei’s Brussels office chose not to comment, maintaining a low profile to avoid media attention.
This marks the second significant corruption scandal within the EU Parliament in less than three years. Previously, in December 2022, an accusation of corruption emerged, involving alleged Qatari bribes to EU officials linked to labor rights scrutiny ahead of the World Cup.
These incidents have tarnished the EU Parliament, which is the sole directly elected EU body across its 27 nations, and impacted its position of moral authority internationally, including within Hungary.
Daniel Freund of the EU Greens, who advised on the assembly’s ethics measures during the “Qatargate” inquiry, commented on the renewed risk to the parliament’s integrity. Freund emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive investigation and reforms to bolster the institution’s resistance to corruption.
According to Follow The Money, an investigative journalism source, a main suspect identified in the probe is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist affiliated with Huawei since 2019. Ottati, formerly an aide to two Italian MEPs involved with a parliamentary group focusing on China policy, now serves as Huawei’s EU public affairs director.
