Qatargate: Belgian authorities call for the arrest of former EU Commissioner Avramopoulos

Brussels – The investigation into Qatargate, which began in December 2022 following allegations that Qatar, together with Mauritania and Morocco, had sought to influence some European politicians through money and gifts, has returned to the spotlight. According to reports from the Belga news agency, the Belgian authorities issued a European arrest warrant today (23 June), the former European Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, is under investigation for his involvement in the affair.

Currently a member of the Greek Parliament – elected for the liberal-conservative party Νέα Δημοκρατία, which translates as New Democracy – Avramopoulos is accused of involvement in a criminal organisation linked to the “cash-for-influence” corruption case. According to the Belgian public prosecutor’s office, the former commissioner is alleged to have received payments totalling around 73,000 euros from Fight Impunity, an NGO founded by former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, a key figure in the Qatargate scandal.

Official Greek sources cited by the Belgian news agency also report that prosecutors in Brussels had asked Avramopoulos to give evidence last year, but to no avail, as the former commissioner failed to appear.

Meanwhile, the Greek MP denies any wrongdoing and maintains that all his work for Fight Impunity was lawful, transparent, and approved by the relevant authorities. He also said that he does not intend to invoke parliamentary immunity and that he wishes the case to be the subject of a thorough investigation. For the arrest warrant to be executed, the Greek Parliament must first vote to waive his criminal immunity.

The investigation into Qatargate began in 2022. Prominent figures implicated in the case include the former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili; her partner and Panzeri’s parliamentary assistant, Francesco Giorgi; MEP (S&D), Alessandra Moretti; former MEP Andrea Cozzolino; the Secretary-General of the NGO “No Peace Without Justice”, Niccolò Figà-Talamanca; the former Secretary-General of the International Trade Union Confederation, Luca Visentini; and Panzeri’s wife and daughter, Maria Colleoni and Silvia Panzeri.