Qatargate: MEP Arena and ex-chief investigator ‘were good friends’
Embattled Belgian Socialist MEP, Marie Arena, and Michel Claise, the former lead investigator in the Qatargate scandal, have known each other for at least five years,…
Corruption
Latest reporting and analysis on corruption.
Belgian Government in meltdown
A storm of such magnitude is brewing in Belgian politics that the very foundations of the country’s governmental systems could be under threat – with ministers…
Qatargate: MEP Arena lobbied for son’s cannabis business
More tricky Qatargate questions are haunting Belgian socialist MEP, Marie Arena.
Qatargate scandal takes murky turn as photo of Arena and Panzeri emerges
The Qatargate scandal engulfing Europe took a murky turn on June 20 after the emergence of a photo showing what appeared to be an intimate embrace between the investigators'…
EU Parliament accuses Morocco of espionage
The European Parliament has agreed a resolution to investigate Morocco for its alleged use of the digital spyware Pegasus.
Qatargate lead investigator forced to step aside
Michael Claise, the investigating judge leading the Qatargate inquiry, has had to disqualify himself due to a possible conflict of interest.
Invitation of Islamist Teheran mayor forces Brussels State Secretary to resign
Pascal Smet, Secretary of State for the Brussels-Capital Region, stepped down on June 18, claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" after the backlash he received…
Qatargate: lead investigator’s phone hacked
Spyware has been found by Belgian police on several smartphones belonging to Belgian magistrates and police officers, including the phone of Michael Claise, the…
Calls to suspend Nicola Sturgeon: ‘This soap opera has gone far enough’
The former leader of the Scottish government, Nicola Sturgeon, has been released without charge following her arrest on June 11, pending further investigation.
Former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested over SNP funding probe
By Kylie MacLellan
EU ethics body is ‘toothless bulldog’
Věra Jourová, the Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, has raised hackles among some MEPs after putting forward a proposal for…
Romanian judges say ‘hypocritical’ EU reforms will ‘collapse’ judiciary
Horrified legal chiefs in Romania say European Union-approved reforms have left the "entire" judicial system there "on the verge of collapse".
Euro MPs too weak-willed to regulate themselves, EU watchdog says
Weak-willed Euro MPs have been hammered over their inability to stamp out fraud at the heart of the European Union, such as that revealed in the alleged Qatargate…
ECJ decisions taken over drinks at parties, Polish justice minister claims
Zbigniew Ziobro, the Polish justice minister, has slammed the negative verdict of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Poland’s judicial reforms and accused…
Kaili still defends Qatar, criticises Belgium in new interviews
Against a backdrop of accusations that she is implicated in an alleged Qatari operation to bribe EU officials known as 'Qatargate', Greek MEP, Eva Kaili, insists…
Polish Government could debar former EU President Donald Tusk from public office
Poland is to create a commission to investigate Russian influence over the process of government with the power to debar present and former officials, such as Poland’s…
Euro MP accused of harassement ‘demanded staff babysit her child’
In a high-profile case of alleged harassment that has further rocked the European Parliament, Belgian MEP Assita Kanko is the latest to stand accused of terrorising…
European Parliament gets tough on lobbyists and NGO’s
In the latest attempt by the European Parliament to promote openness and transparency in response to the Qatargate corruption scandal that implicated several MEPs…
Tunisian President central bank power grab could derail IMF bailout
The President of Tunisia, Kais Saied, wants to reduce the independence of the country’s central bank, Banque Centrale de Tunisie, in a move that threatens a much-needed…
Almost unknown President of almost unknown Parliament took home a quarter of a million euros last year
Brussels Parliament President Socialist Rachid Madrane, an almost unknown figure on the political scene, earns more than Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo,…
Qatargate: Belgian investigators ‘spied on Eva Kaili within European Parliament’
Belgian investigators had Greek Euro MP Eva Kaili under surveillance within the European Parliament and without the Parliament's knowledge, her lawyers are alleging.
Ukraine goes after corrupt officials while Zelensky tours Europe – again
While Ukrainian President Zelensky secured more weapons from his Western allies, anti-corruption authority swooped on the country’s top judges in Kyiv.
Belgian justice so slow that corrupt EU officials escape scot-free
Two EU officials who engaged in agricultural subsidy fraud have escaped punishment due to the slow workings of the Belgian courts.
Did Polish military hush up second stray missile?
Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland’s defence minister, has denied knowledge of a Russian missile that fell on Polish territory in December last year, the remains of which…
EU’s chief prosecutor hints at US angle to Covid vaccines investigation
Laura Codruța Kövesi, head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), has hinted that the EU vaccine investigation has widened to the United States.
French far-left parliamentarian who railed against tax fraud investigated for tax fraud
French far-left deputy Carlos Martens Bilongo is being investigated by the Pontoise prosecutor’s office for tax fraud, a crime he campaigned against in parliament.
Qatar’s influence over the EU goes unchecked. It is not the only foreign power active in Brussels
Qatargate has become the biggest corruption scandal to hit the European Parliament. It has exposed the ability of foreign governments to penetrate European institutions.
Qatargate accused Tarabella tearful after conditional release; wants to return to Strasbourg Parliament
Qatargate accused Marc Tarabella broke down in front of press on May 10 as he accused his former friend Pier Antonio Panzeri of “throwing him to the wolves”.
Prime Minister of Slovakia steps down amid EU subsidy scandal
Eduard Heger has stepped down as prime minister of Slovakia following an EU funding scandal.
Greek legacy media ‘fighting for survival’
Financial stress, declining readerships, shrinking advertising and the the pandemic have left Greece’s legacy media on the brink, according to Reporters Without…