Qatargate: EU Court of Justice rules against Metsola – ‘Wrong to refuse access to documents’

Brussels – Eva Kaili, the MEP caught up in the Qatargate scandal and allegations of corruption in exchange for support from the emirate, should have been granted access to documents held by the European Parliament regarding her, according to a by the Court of Justice of the EU, annulling the decisions of the European Parliament and effectively defeating the actions of its president, Roberta Metsola. Access to the files “does not undermine the protection of court proceedings,” the Luxembourg judges ruled in a​judgment affirming the right of the accused to information in the investigation conducted by the Belgian prosecution. 

On 15 December 2022, the head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Laura Kovesi asked the European Parliament to waive the parliamentary immunity for Eva Kaili. The Greek MEP opposed this request, and reacted by requesting that the Parliament grant her access to documents relating to all cases concerning irregularities in the management by MEPs of allowances relating to accredited

parliamentary assistants. 

“The Parliament refused” access, the Luxembourg judges emphasize, in a decision that is being challenged.

It is worth recalling that the case was referred to the Luxembourg-based Court to examine the legitimacy of the request made by the European Chief Prosecutor and the decision of the president of the Parliament.”Consequently, disclosure of the requested documents is not liable to compromise equality of arms in the case brought before the General Court. that states today: ” The principle of equality of arms, in the legal context, states that parties involved in a trial must have equal opportunities and means to assert their reasons before the Court”. Thus, in Kaili’s case, Metsola’s conduct violated her rights. The Court then sinks another blow when it further notes that “access to the requested documents would not be detrimental to the sound administration of justice in the case brought before the General Court.”