2024-04-12 17:39:00
According to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, the Belgian federal prosecutor launched, two days ago, an investigation into a network of Russian spies which allegedly corrupted several elected officials, including certain MEPs. A network whose financial transactions would have been located in the Czech Republic. Last week, we discussed this affair through the case of the Voice of Europe site which would have been the instrument through which pro-Kremlin propaganda would have been distributed for payment. This site has been closed but continues its activity on social networks.
“I received a certain level of detail, which is in a declassified report from my security services,” he declared in Brussels on Friday morning during a press conference. My question is: do we, as European institutions, have enough tools to combat this? Our European citizens will not be fooled by Russian propaganda, but we must be extremely clear in highlighting what Russian propaganda is and what its intention is. And the only intention is to weaken European democracy and support for Ukraine, which is one of the goals that Russia must achieve. »
Belgium wants to refer the matter to the European Council
Alexander De Croo intends to bring this question to other European leaders during the European Council which will be held next week, on April 17 and 18, in Brussels. He considers it necessary to convene a meeting of Eurojust (the European criminal justice agency). “I can perhaps add that we decided a few months ago to expel a number of diplomats, Russian diplomats who were so-called diplomats suspected of espionage, as well as diplomats accredited to the Union European,” he said.
This is not the first time that the European Parliament has been affected by foreign influence. In December 2022, when Qatargate broke out, various secret services also warned of the existence of an alleged corruption network involving several deputies, former deputies and parliamentary assistants.
Qatargate investigation blocked by procedural appeal
It is clear that the investigation is, for the moment, paralyzed by a question of compliance with procedures regarding the lifting of the immunity of the former vice-president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili. The repentant status granted to Antonio Panzeri did not really make it possible to verify the accuracy of the allegations. Judge Claise, in charge of the case, had to leave late due to a possible family conflict of interest. All deputies have resumed their parliamentary activity…
In short, we cannot say that the investigation was a complete success. Does Alexander De Croo have confidence in his country’s justice system to carry out such investigations? “Quite, sir,” he replied to Point. And I hope you have confidence in the justice of your country too. Naturally, we have full confidence. And honestly, I think that the Belgian authorities, that the Belgian justice system did what the institution [parlementaire, NDLR] should have done. We intervened because we see that certain European institutions are, for the moment, not organized in relation to a new reality in which we find ourselves. Legal proceedings take time. And one of the reasons why it takes time is that, we live in a state of law where the rights of the defense are there. And in any matter, they must be there. But I have full confidence in Belgian justice to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion. But it’s not up to me to know where she ends up, nor is it up to me to influence her. »
In the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, its president, has only limited means to counter Russian interference upon referral to the courts. It can only, at its level, verify whether the ethical rules have been violated and, if necessary, impose sanctions. For the moment, it has emerged that Voice of Europe is not a media accredited to Parliament.
However, he was able to record two debates in Parliament by relying – which is legal – on the fact that the recording studio was reserved by the MPs. For the first debate, organized in Brussels on October 11, the MP who reserved the stage is Maximilian Krah, the head of the AfD list in Germany.
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