A corruption investigation involving Huawei and the European Parliament has led to several arrests, with allegations of bribery targeting EU officials to further commercial interests. Belgian prosecutors have initiated an ongoing probe into active corruption, money laundering, and document forgery associated with a criminal organization. Reports indicate that corruption practices have been discreetly conducted since 2021, involving political compensation and lavish gifts, with police raiding locations in Belgium and Portugal. While no MEPs are directly implicated, about 15 are reportedly under investigation. Huawei is cooperating with the inquiry and maintaining its anti-corruption stance.
A spokesperson for the federal prosecutors' office in Belgium, where the European Parliament is located, said authorities are conducting "an ongoing investigation on preliminary charges of active corruption, forgery of documents, money laundering at the European Parliament".
"Corruption was allegedly practiced regularly and very discreetly from 2021 to the present day, under the guise of commercial lobbying and taking various forms, such as compensation for political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses."
Police raided several addresses in Belgium and Portugal, according to reports. Two European Parliament offices linked to two assistants who are allegedly involved in the case have been sealed.
Huawei said it would "urgently communicate with the investigation" to better understand the issue at hand, while the company is taking the allegations "seriously."
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