Pending the results of the investigation into the corruption scandal that has swept through the European Union, the European Parliament, whose former vice-president, the Greek Eva Kaili, is suspected of having been corrupted by Qatar and was imprisoned by Belgian justice, is already taking measures with regard to the Gulf country. The latter strongly warned the European institution of the repercussions of such decisions, in particular their “negative impact” on the “energy security” of the Old Continent.
MEPs voted almost unanimously on Thursday 15 December in Strasbourg for a text, in which they ask “urge the suspension of the access permits of representatives of Qatari interests (…) until the judicial investigations provide relevant information and clarifications”. They have expressed, in the text, their “consternation” as to “alleged acts of corruption and money laundering, committed by Members, former Members and staff of the European Parliament in exchange for their influence on Parliament’s decisions”. They also expressed their “deep concern” and their agreement for a “Parliament’s full cooperation with the ongoing criminal investigation”.
The visa regime and the EU-Qatar agreement on hold
The resolution “denounces in the strongest possible terms the alleged attempts by Qatar to influence” the European Parliament “by acts of corruption, which constitute serious foreign interference in the democratic processes of the Union”. The text welcomes the decision to dismiss Eva Kaili from her duties and underlines “the failure of internal control and alert mechanisms” at the institution.
MEPs also decide through this resolution and its article 24 to “suspend all work on legislative files relating to Qatar, in particular regarding visa liberalization and the EU-Qatar aviation agreement, as well as planned visits, until the allegations have been resolved. been upheld or overturned”. The open skies agreement between Qatar and Europe, which authorized unlimited service to Europe by Qatar Airways, sparked controversy when it was validated by Brussels last year.
The decision to apply these sanctions is now in the hands of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. During her speech on December 12, the Maltese promised the “network behind this alleged corruption” not to benefit “with no impunity” and especially not from “sweep under the rug”. “All facts related to the European Parliament will be affected by these investigations“, she said.
The resolution of MEPs quickly angered Qatar, which reacted through a diplomat from the country’s mission to the European Union, shortly before the final of the World Cup, competition which took place in this country of the Gulf. The representative denounced “the decision to impose such a discriminatory restriction on Qatar, limiting dialogue and cooperation before the end of the legal proceedings”. He firmly rejected the “allegations associating our government with misconduct”.
“We’d rather be cold than be bought”
Qatar said it regretted “judgments based on inaccurate information revealed by leaks without waiting for the conclusion of the investigation” and rejects the exclusive nature of these measures against Qatar, cited alongside Kuwait by the Belgian courts.
The Gulf country warns against the decision of the European Parliament which will “a negative impact on regional and global security cooperation, as well as ongoing discussions on global energy scarcity and security.”
Was Qatar’s reaction anticipated by Roberta Metsola? At the end of her speech on December 12, she promised “to harmful actors” to find “this Parliament on [leur] path. We are Europeans, we prefer to be cold than to be bought”she said.
The Qatari diplomat also hailed the “strong ties” which bind his country to Member States of the European Union, expressing his “gratitude to those who have demonstrated their commitment to these relationships in the face of the current wave of attacks”.
The warnings about the consequences of European decisions on energy cooperation with Qatar come, it should be remembered, at a time when the Old Continent is looking for alternatives to Russian gas, due to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russia. At the end of November, Germany, which was one of the countries most dependent on Russia, thus had two agreements to strengthen its LNG supplies from the emirate for a period of fifteen years.
The announcement on December 11 by Belgian justice of the arrest of two MEPs, including the vice-president of the European Parliament, the Greek socialist Eva Kaili, have been arrested has caused a shock wave within the European Union.
A total of six people were arrested. In addition to the Vice-President of the European Parliament, her companion Francesco Giorgi and her father, it is an Italian trade union leader, Luca Visentini, and the former MEP Pier-Antonio Panzeri.
Four of these people were remanded in custody for “belonging to a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption” and two others released by the judge. The Vice-President of the European Parliament is among those imprisoned.
As part of a four-month investigation, led by a Brussels financial judge, the Belgian police carried out at least 20 searches in various municipalities in Brussels, including the headquarters of the European Parliament. She got her hands on “about 600,000 euros in cash”as well as “computer equipment and mobile phones” whose contents will be analyzed.
Ces “gifts or benefits offered could be linked to Qatar’s desire to improve its maligned reputation for human rights and the treatment of foreign workers”, particularly in the context of the organization of the World Cup which is currently taking place.
Shortly before the start of the World Cup, Eva Kaili had met in Qatar with the Qatari Minister of Labor, Ali bin Samikh Al Marri. At the end of this visit, she had greeted “Qatar’s commitment to pursue labor reforms”, according to a tweet of the Union’s Ambassador in Doha, Cristian Tudor.