Belgium asks EU Parliament to waive immunity of MEPs Tarabella, Cozzolino – POLITICO

Belgian investigators requested the European Parliament to waive the immunity of two extra MEPs suspected of wrongdoing amid a sprawling corruption scandal linked to alleged bribery by Qatar and Morocco.

Socialists & Democrats lawmakers Marc Tarabella, a Belgian MEP, and Andrea Cozzolino, an Italian, are these now being focused, in keeping with an EU official near the matter, in addition to an insider within the S&D group within the Parliament. Each spoke on situation of anonymity so as to not jeopardize the authorized process. The Belgian prosecutor declined to offer remark.

The Parliament has vowed to crack down on corruption and illicit lobbying, deciding in December to ascertain a particular committee to run in parallel with a probe by Belgian prosecutor Michel Claise. “There can be no impunity. None,” wrote European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Twitter.

This was a realizing nod to the NGO Struggle Impunity, which former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri established in 2019 along with his former assistant Francesco Giorgi, who has labored as Cozzolino’s assistant since 2019.

The immunity of Giorgi’s associate, Eva Kaili, previously one of many Parliament’s 14 vice presidents, was routinely stripped away as a result of she was thought of to have been caught within the act of committing an offense. The Belgian prosecutor additionally discovered €150,000 in money at her Brussels house after the scandal broke on December 9. Belgian authorities then arrested her and seized baggage of money in Brussels.

MEPs eliminated Kaili as a vice chairman final month and together with Giorgi, former MEP Panzeri and NGO boss Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, she is now dealing with preliminary costs of corruption, cash laundering and participation in a felony group.

The Parliament will formally kickstart the prolonged process for eradicating authorized safety for Tarabella and Cozzolino when MEPs subsequent collect in Strasbourg on January 16. At the moment, the Parliament’s authorized affairs committee will give the 2 MEPs an opportunity to say their piece and rubber stamp the measure earlier than handing it over to the complete plenary of lawmakers for a remaining vote, which can probably be an awesome majority.

The Socialists & Democrats group in Parliament mentioned in an announcement to POLITICO that its members would “observe, within the context of the European Parliament, the procedures foreseen in a accountable and constructive method.”

In a separate assertion shared with POLITICO, Tarabella’s lawyer Maxim Töller mentioned the MEP would assist the lifting of his immunity. “Because the starting of this investigation, Marc Tarabella has repeated that he’s on the disposal of the judiciary and has even requested to be questioned quickly so as to defend himself. He has equally mentioned that he wouldn’t cover behind his parliamentary immunity,” Töller wrote.

Metsola was current throughout a search that Belgian police performed at Tarabella’s home on December 10, searching for doubtlessly compromising materials.

Tarabella has proclaimed his innocence. He’s vice chair of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula and co-chair of the establishment’s sports activities group — an essential function within the leadup to Qatar’s internet hosting of the FIFA World Cup final 12 months.

Cozzolino publicly requested for his immunity to be lifted and has additionally denied wrongdoing.

Because the scandal broke, Cozzolino briefly stood down as chair of a delegation for relations with Maghreb nations and likewise stood again from his function as his group’s coordinator on drafting resolutions on human rights abuses outdoors the EU. On the time of publishing, he had not responded to POLITICO’s requests for remark.

“President Metsola may even set out her intentions for reforms within the coming weeks, together with an overhaul of the present guidelines and enhancing inside methods, together with on enforcement,” the Parliament mentioned in a press assertion. Metsola needs the immunity waiver to be wrapped up by mid-February.

Pieter Haeck contributed reporting.