Belgian police search Huawei headquarters for alleged corruption in the European Parliament.

BrusselsBelgian authorities have searched the Brussels headquarters of technology giant Huawei in connection with a possible corruption case in the European Parliament. According to information released Thursday by the Follow the Money platform and Belgian media, The Evening and Knack, some 15 current and former MEPs are allegedly implicated in the investigations. Federal police have raided the homes of several of the company's lobbyists on suspicion of involvement in bribery, forgery, money laundering, and organized crime involving members of the European Parliament.

In a subsequent statement issued by the Belgian prosecutor's office, which makes no explicit mention of Huawei and simply refers to "lobbying groups," it indicates that the corruption has allegedly been carried out "regularly and very discreetly" from 2021 to the present. Specifically, it has theoretically consisted of offering gifts and bribes to political representatives in exchange for preferential treatment in political decisions of the European Parliament. It is a case that resembles the Qatargate scandal, in which Qatar bribed several MEPs and MEP assistants in exchange for political favors.

According to the same press reports, at the center of the investigation is Valerio Ottati, a 41-year-old lobbyist who joined the Chinese company six years ago. Before moving to the private sector, however, he had worked for several Italian MEPs who have open cases in the European Parliament regarding China's influence in the European Parliament.

If it is confirmed that sitting MEPs are involved in the case, the Belgian authorities may request entry to the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels. just as it happened in the wake of Qatargate. Then, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola had to personally receive the Belgian police. However, this time she is at the headquarters of the parliamentary chamber in Strasbourg, where plenary sessions are being held until Thursday.

Trade war with China

The Belgian police investigation into the Chinese company comes amid a trade war between the EU and the Asian giant. The community blog has long sought to reduce its dependence on Beijing and is pushing for measures to reduce imports from China, especially in terms of products and services. industries that are considered strategic, such as technology. In addition, Brussels has opened up and tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and threatens to take the same measures in other sectors.

It should be remembered that this would not be the first time they have come to light. Corruption cases in the European Parliament related to ChinaJust before the European elections in June last year, a time when many legislative initiatives are finalized, several parliamentary assistants from the German far-right AfD party were implicated in spying scandals in the European Parliament. Among other things, they sent confidential information to Chinese intelligence services about negotiations on European regulations that could affect the Asian giant.