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New corruption scandal in the European Parliament, Huawei in the spotlight

by AI | 13.Mar 2025 | Europe in brief AI

After Qatargate, the European Parliament is shaken by a new corruption scandal and this time the investigation targets the Chinese company Huawei.

The logo of the Chinese technology company Huawei adorns the facade of its French headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, in the Paris suburbs, on January 6, 2025. (Photo: Martin LELIEVRE / AFP)

Brussels – A series of raids were conducted Thursday in Belgium and Portugal, and a suspect was arrested in France, in an investigation into corruption within the European Parliament targeting the Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

The Belgian judge in charge of the investigation sealed several offices in the Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg, particularly those assigned to two parliamentary assistants considered as suspects, the federal prosecutor’s office said.

According to the prosecutor’s office, corruption has been practiced “regularly” and “very discreetly” since 2021, “under the guise of commercial lobbying,” with remunerations for political positions, “excessive gifts” such as dining expenses, travel, or invitations to football matches.

A suspect was arrested in France under a European arrest warrant issued by Belgian justice, it was specified.

Huawei is at the heart of technological rivalries between China and other major powers. The United States suspects, without evidence, that Chinese equipment could be used for espionage purposes. (March 13, 2025)