Corruption allegations against European Parliament officials (Qatargate)

Summary:

Information Guide providing an overview on the corruption and bribery allegations against officials of the European Parliament (EP) over their positions on Qatar - in what became known as Qatargate - as well as the institutional reactions to this case.

Further information:

In early December 2022 Belgian police announced they had arrested and charged four people on suspicion of corruption and bribery, including EP Vice-President and S&D member, Eva Kaili as well as former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Pier Antonio Panzeri. An investigation was launched over the alleged reception of cash and gifts from Qatar in exchange for influence in the EP.

In response to the arrests, S&D requested a suspension of all plenary votes related to the Gulf states, including a vote on visa liberalisation with Qatar. EP President Roberta Metsola convened a meeting of the Conference of Presidents to launch procedures according to Article 21 of the Rules of Procedure of the EP, during which time members voted to immediately terminate Eva Kaili's term as Vice-President.

Moreover, Ms Metsola announced on 12 January 2023 a package of fourteen proposals aimed at preventing such practices to ever occur again within the European Parliament.

Belgium's Federal Prosecutor's Office announced on 17 January that Mr Panzeri had signed a so-called repentance agreement and pledged to share information about the cash-for-favour scheme in exchange for a lower sentence. It became known that both Qatar and Morocco were involved in this scheme. On 31 January, the European Parliament voted to lift immunity from a further two members of the European Parliament, Marc Tarabella and Andrea Cozzolino. Both were eventually detained a few days later.

Official

S&D EP Group: Press Release, 09/12/2022: Zero tolerance for corruption, S&Ds react to media reports on Belgian investigation https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/zero-tolerance-corruption-sds-react-media-reports-belgian-investigation

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Resolution on on suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions (2022/3012(RSP)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2022/3012(RSP)

European Parliament: Press Release, 13/12/2022: EP President Metsola on the ongoing investigations by Belgian authorities https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221212IPR64532/ep-president-metsola-on-the-ongoing-investigations-by-belgian-authorities

European Parliament: Press Release, 13/12/2022: Eva Kaili no longer Vice-President of the European Parliament https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221213IPR64610/eva-kaili-no-longer-vice-president-of-the-european-parliament

European Parliament: Press Release, 13/12/2022: Corruption allegations: MEPs call for full internal investigation https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221213IPR64605/corruption-allegations-meps-call-for-full-internal-investigation

EPRS: At a Glance, 13/12/2022: Parliament votes on termination of the office of a Vice-President https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)739260

European Parliament: Statement of the Conference of Presidents on the ongoing criminal investigations in corruption schemes involving Members and staff of the European Parliament (13 December 2022) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20221213RES64612/20221213RES64612.pdf

European Parliament: Press Release, 15/12/2022: Corruption scandal: MEPs insist on reforms for transparency and accountability https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221212IPR64541/

European Parliament: Press Release, 02/01/2023: EP President launches procedure for two waivers of immunity https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230102IPR65402/

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 13/02/2023: Qatargate: Don’t abuse NGOs for foreign interference https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/qatargate-don-t-abuse-ngos-for-foreign-interference

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News

BBC: News, 11/12/2022: Eva Kaili: Senior EU lawmaker arrested over alleged bribery by Gulf state https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63921002

Reuters, 11/12/2022: Belgium charges four people in European Parliament corruption probe https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belgium-charges-four-people-european-parliament-corruption-probe-2022-12-11/

EurActiv, 12/12/2022: EU Parliament suspends work with Qatar as MEPs demand corruption probe https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-parliament-suspends-work-with-qatar-as-meps-demand-corruption-probe/

The Guardian, 13/12/2022: Greek MEP stripped of EU vice-president role amid Qatar scandal https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/13/eu-vice-president-eva-kaili-faces-stripped-role-amid-qatar-corruption-scandal

Le Monde, 13/12/2022: 'Qatargate': Pier Antonio Panzeri, from the Milanese left to European lobbying https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/12/13/qatargate-pier-antonio-panzeri-from-the-milanese-left-to-european-lobbying_6007670_4.html

Politico, 13/12/2022: The ‘giant’ and the Moroccan envoy tied to the EU Parliament scandal https://www.politico.eu/article/qatargate-giant-moroccan-envoy-alleged-scandal-corruption-eu-parliament-antonio-panzeri/

The Independent (UK), 13/12/2022: Eva Kaili denies receiving cash from Qatar as EU corruption row grows https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eva-kaili-qatar-eu-corruption-b2244117.html

Associated Press (AP News), 13/12/2022: EU reels as scandal tarnishes parliament’s credibility https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-european-union-business-europe-61c134d03b5617d54a2861fc0d7b4d38

Deutsche Welle, 13/12/2022: EU lawmakers remove Eva Kaili from office amid Qatar scandal https://p.dw.com/p/4KrEU

Politico, 13/12/2022: Scandal pushes MEPs to review Qatar Airways’ access deal with EU https://www.politico.eu/article/scandal-european-parliament-qatar-airways/

Euronews, 14/12/2022: Socialist MEPs step down from key roles as European Parliament corruption scandal widens https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/12/13/socialist-meps-step-down-from-key-role-as-european-parliament-corruption-scandal-widens

Kathimerini, 14/12/2022: Judge to decide on detention of EU-Qatar graft scandal suspects https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1200238/judge-to-decide-on-detention-of-eu-qatar-graft-scandal-suspects/

Politico, 14/12/2022: European far-right cheers over Qatar corruption scandal https://www.politico.eu/article/qatar-corruption-scandal-far-right-european-parliament/

EurActiv, 14/12/2022: Lawyer claims Eva Kaili followed EU Parliament chief’s orders in Qatar https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/lawyer-claims-eva-kaili-followed-eu-parliament-chiefs-orders-in-qatar/

Reuters, 14/12/2022: EU-Qatar graft scandal uncovered by year-long, pan-Europe probe, Belgium says https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/judge-decide-detention-eu-qatar-graft-scandal-suspects-2022-12-14/

Politico, 15/12/2022: EU leaders try to sideline Qatar scandal — while they still can https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-sideline-qatar-scandal-corruption-election-european-council-euco-summit/

The Guardian, 15/12/2022: European parliament may ban Qatari officials from premises https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/15/european-parliament-may-ban-qatari-officials-from-premises

Kathimerini, 19/12/2022: Aftershocks in Athens from Qatargate https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1200530/aftershocks-in-athens-from-qatargate/

EurActiv, 20/12/2022: ‘Qatargate’ scandal casts light on ‘untouchable’ EU lawmakers https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/qatargate-scandal-casts-light-on-untouchable-eu-lawmakers/

France24, 22/12/2022: Greek MEP remains in detention as Qatargate investigations continue https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20221222-greek-mep-remains-in-detention-as-qatargate-investigations-continue

Politico, 24/12/2022: Leaks are endangering Qatargate cases, warns Belgian justice minister https://www.politico.eu/article/qatargate-vincent-van-quickenborne-leaks-corruption-belgian-justice-minister-warning/

The Brussels Times, 27/12/2022: 'It reminds me of a Tintin cartoon': MEP compares Qatargate to classic Belgian comic https://www.brusselstimes.com/341845/it-reminds-me-of-a-tintin-cartoon-mep-compares-qatargate-to-classic-belgian-comic

EurActiv, 02/01/2023: Qatargate: EU parliament chief moves to lift two MEPs’ immunity https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/qatargate-eu-parliament-chief-moves-to-lift-two-meps-immunity/

Euronews, 10/01/2023: Qatargate: Judge has 'no evidence' against MEP Eva Kaili, her lawyer says https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/01/10/qatargate-judge-has-no-evidence-against-mep-eva-kaili-her-lawyer-says

Politico, 11/01/2023: EU Parliament chief readies plan to prevent Qatargate 2.0 https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-parliament-roberta-metsola-transparency-qatargate-corruption-scandal/

Times of Malta, 12/01/2023: Roberta Metsola unveils 14-point parliament reform plan after graft scandal https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/roberta-metsola-unveils-14point-parliament-reform-plan-graft-scandal.1006840

Euronews, 12/01/2023: Corruption scandal: EU Parliament chief vows to review laws and trips in search for undue influence https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/01/12/corruption-scandal-eu-parliament-chief-vows-to-review-laws-and-trips-in-search-for-undue-i

EurActiv, 12/01/2023: EU Parliament head sets out transparency plan in response to ‘Qatargate’ scandal https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-parliament-head-sets-out-transparency-plan-in-response-to-qatargate-scandal/

EUObserver, 14/12/2023: EU Parliament to present 14 point anti-corruption reform https://euobserver.com/eu-political/156594

The Guardian, 17/01/2023: Ex-MEP at heart of cash for influence scandal strikes plea bargain https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/17/mep-pier-antonio-panzeri-cash-for-influence-scandal-plea-bargain

Euronews, 18/01/2023: Ex-MEP charged in EU corruption scandal admits links to Qatar & Morocco, lawyer says https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/01/18/ex-mep-charged-in-eu-corruption-scandal-admits-links-to-qatar-morocco-lawyer-says

The Guardian, 31/01/2023: EU committee votes to lift immunity from two MEPs amid ‘Qatargate’ inquiry https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/31/eu-committee-votes-to-lift-immunity-from-two-meps-amid-qatargate-inquiry

BBC News, 02/02/2023: Qatargate: Two MEPs lose immunity in corruption case https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64495562

El País, 03/02/2023: Two members of European Parliament are stripped of immunity over ‘Qatargate’ https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-02-03/two-members-of-european-parliament-are-stripped-of-immunity-over-qatargate.html

Kathimerini, 10/02/2023: Belgium detains another MEP in ‘Qatargate’ investigation https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1204443/belgium-detains-another-mep-in-qatargate-investigation/

TVP World, 14/02/2023: Broader competencies to EP special committee after Qatargate https://tvpworld.com/66323289/broader-competencies-to-ep-special-committee-after-qatargate

EUObserver, 15/02/2023: MEPs scramble to declare paid trips post-Qatargate https://euobserver.com/eu-political/156722

Politico, 16/02/2023: Qatargate: Corruption scandal widens with more EU lawmakers in frame https://www.politico.eu/article/arrest-warrant-two-meps-connected-qatargate-parliament-corruption-probe-maria-arena-alessandra-moretti/

Le Monde, 25/02/2023: 'Qatargate' at the European Parliament: Belgian courts investigate payment of 'several million euros' https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/02/25/qatargate-at-the-european-parliament-belgian-courts-investigate-payment-of-several-million-euros_6017270_4.html

Politico, 03/03/2023: Qatargate: MEPs Eva Kaili, Marc Tarabella to stay in jail longer https://www.politico.eu/article/qatargate-eva-kaili-marc-tarabella-stay-jail/

Politico, 06/03/2023: Shock, anger, betrayal: Inside the Qatargate-hit Socialist group https://www.politico.eu/article/shock-anger-betrayal-qatargate-socialist-group-eu-parliament/

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Commentary and Analysis

Politico, 11/12/2022: Qatar scandal: What just happened at the European Parliament? https://www.politico.eu/article/eva-kaili-doha-panzeri-qatargate-what-just-happened-at-the-european-parliament/

The Spectator, 12/12/2022: Can the EU recover from the Qatar corruption scandal? https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/can-the-eu-recover-from-the-qatar-corruption-scandal/

Duetsche Welle, 12/12/2022: EU corruption scandal exposes lobbying loopholes https://www.dw.com/en/eu-corruption-scandal-exposes-lobbying-loopholes/a-64072124

El País, 13/12/2022: ‘Qatargate’: the keys to the scandal rocking the European Parliament https://english.elpais.com/international/2022-12-13/qatargate-the-keys-to-the-scandal-that-rocked-the-european-parliament.html

The Conversation, 14/12/2022: Qatar lobbying: European Parliament scandal shows urgent need for tighter regulations https://theconversation.com/qatar-lobbying-european-parliament-scandal-shows-urgent-need-for-tighter-regulations-196515

Euro|topics, December 2022: What does the corruption scandal mean for the EU? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/293219/what-does-the-corruption-scandal-mean-for-the-eu

Social Europe, 16/12/2022: After ‘Qatargate’: how to protect democracy in the EU https://www.socialeurope.eu/after-qatargate-how-to-protect-democracy-in-the-eu

Politico, 17/12/2022: Anatomy of a scandal: How ‘Qatargate’ crisis shook EU to its core https://www.politico.eu/article/scandal-qatargate-crisis-european-union-corruption-crisis/

Malta Today: Editorial, 18/12/2022: Qatargate, and what’s good for the goose https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/comment/editorial/120345/qatargate_and_whats_good_for_the_goose

Transparency International: News, 22/12/2022: Transparency International EU calls for an independent inquiry into European Commission Qatargate links https://transparency.eu/independent-inquiry-into-commission-qatargate-links/

Le Monde, 23/12/2022: 'Qatargate': How members of the European Parliament voted on Qatar https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/2022/12/23/qatargate-how-members-of-the-european-parliament-voted-on-qatar_6008799_8.html

Politico, 26/12/2022: Qatargate? EU parliament's culture of impunity is its own creation https://euobserver.com/rule-of-law/156566

Verfassungsblog, 10/01/2023: Qatargate: The tip of the iceberg? https://verfassungsblog.de/qatargate-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/

Deutsche Welle, 14/01/2023: After Qatargate, can the EU Parliament clean up its act? https://p.dw.com/p/4M9RB

European Law Blog, 16/01/2023: ‘Qatargate’ exposes a long-denounced inadequacy of the ethics framework for members of the EU institutions https://europeanlawblog.eu/2023/01/16/qatargate-exposes-a-long-denounced-inadequacy-of-the-ethics-framework-for-members-of-the-eu-institutions/

eucrim: News, 17/01/2023: EP Reaction to “Qatargate” https://eucrim.eu/news/ep-reaction-to-qatargate/

Human Rights Watch (HRW): Dispatches, 18/01/2023: European Parliament: Wrong Response to ‘Qatargate’ Scandal https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/01/18/european-parliament-wrong-response-qatargate-scandal

Foreign Policy: Argument, 19/01/2023: What Europe’s ‘Qatargate’ Is — and Isn’t https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/01/19/what-europes-qatargate-is-and-isnt/

France24, 21/01/2023: Corruption, cash and confessions: Who are the key suspects in the Qatargate scandal? https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230121-corruption-cash-and-confessions-who-are-the-key-suspects-in-the-qatargate-scandal

UK in a Changing Europe: Commentary, 31/01/2023: What does the ‘Qatargate’ corruption scandal in the European Parliament tell us about corruption? https://ukandeu.ac.uk/what-does-the-qatargate-corruption-scandal-in-the-european-parliament-tell-us-about-corruption/

EurActiv: Opinion, 13/02/2023: Qatargate, Morocco and the EU https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/opinion/qatargate-morocco-and-the-eu/

Corporate Europe Observatory, 15/02/2023: Qatargate, authoritarian backlash and Orban’s fleas https://corporateeurope.org/en/2023/02/qatargate-authoritarian-backlash-and-orbans-fleas

European University Institute (EUI): Transnational Democracy Blog, 20/02/2023: Qatargate: A Missed Opportunity to Reform the Union https://blogs.eui.eu/transnational-democracy/qatargate-a-missed-opportunity-to-reform-the-union/

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Wikipedia: Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_corruption_scandal_at_the_European_Parliament

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