European politics is gripped by a corruption scandal. Members of the European Parliament are suspected of money laundering and participation in a criminal organization. It is very possible that Qatar was trying to buy influence in Europe in this way. “This is unprecedented, Strasbourg is shaking to its foundations,” says Europe correspondent Stefan de Vries.
The news has hit hard in Brussels and Strasbourg where yesterday the European parliamentarians discussed the issue. “This is unprecedented, Strasbourg is shaking to its foundations. This hits hard, it’s really a huge scandal. Seized a lot of money, old-fashioned cash, suitcases with hundreds of thousands of euros. According to the Belgian police, this investigation has been going on for four months.’
Under attack
The reactions are also according to De Vries. President Ursula von der Leyen called the story “extremely worrying”, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called it “incredible”. According to European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, the European Parliament and democracy are “under attack” and reform is on the way.
Painful
And this will be painful, thinks De Vries, because MEPs are always hesitant about transparency towards lobbyists. Striking: in his speech, Metsola said that ‘we’d rather be cold than be bought’, which is a clear reference to Qatar, the Gulf state that has been trying to buy influence and which supplies Europe with liquefied gas.
Broom
However, Metsola will have to sweep the house, and fast. De Vries thinks it could just be that other MEPs are involved in the matter. In any case, according to De Vries, transparency activists think this is the tip of the iceberg, especially the way countries illegally try to influence the EU. “They’re not lobbyists, they don’t have to register in a registry.”
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
