In a recent turn of events, the European Parliament has decided to prohibit lobbyists representing Huawei from entering its facilities. This follows the apprehension of several individuals as part of a corruption investigation connected to the Chinese telecom giant. This development marks another significant controversy for the EU’s governing body. Belgian prosecutors have alleged that Huawei has been involved in bribing members of the European Union legislature.
The European Parliament announced that the prohibition of Huawei lobbyists is a preventive measure adhering to its established security protocols and takes immediate effect. The arrests on Thursday were part of an ongoing investigative effort that uncovered potential bribery by Huawei lobbyists. These lobbyists are suspected of influencing former or current members of the Parliament to support the company’s business interests in Europe.
During the investigation, approximately 100 federal officers executed 21 searches across various locations, including Brussels and other regions such as Flanders and Wallonia, as well as in Portugal. Furthermore, legal authorities overseeing the investigation requested that seals be placed on the offices of two parliamentary assistants allegedly linked to the case.
In response, Huawei has stated that they are treating the allegations with utmost seriousness and plan to engage swiftly with the investigative bodies. Huawei, a prominent manufacturer of both mobile phones and network equipment, has been embroiled in ongoing tensions between China and the United States regarding technology and trade. Allegations from some corners accuse Huawei’s equipment of potentially enabling espionage activities for China, which the company has consistently denied.
The prosecutor’s office has indicated that the suspected corruption involving Huawei began in 2021. This incident represents the second corruption scandal involving the European Parliament in under three years. Previously, in December 2022, the institution was implicated in a separate scandal where Qatari officials were accused of bribery to undermine labor rights issues in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup. Such repeated incidents have cast a shadow over the credibility of the European Union’s only directly elected body, which represents citizens from its 27 member states.
