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EU Parliament clampdown poses threat to Doha relations: Qatari diplomat

Sunday, 18 December 2022 6:10 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 18 December 2022 7:12 PM ]

European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, September 28, 2022. (File photo by Reuters)

Qatar has denounced a corruption investigation by Belgium involving people linked to the European Parliament and the suspension of the Persian Gulf country's access to the EU institution.

In a statement released on Sunday, a diplomat from Qatar's mission to the European Union singled out Belgian authorities for criticism and insisted that "inaccurate" information had been used in the probe. It could "negatively" impact ties and natural gas supplies .

“The decision to impose such a discriminatory restriction that limits dialogue and cooperation on Qatar before the legal process has ended, will negatively effect regional and global security cooperation, as well as ongoing discussions around global energy poverty and security,” the statement read.

“We firmly reject the allegations associating our government with misconduct.”

It said "preconceived prejudices" led the parliament to vote on Thursday to suspend all work on legislation involving Qatar and to bar Qatari representatives from its premises.

The suspension affects legislation linked to visa liberalization, an EU-Qatar aviation agreement and planned visits until the allegations have been confirmed or dismissed.

Belgian authorities have charged four people linked to the European Parliament over allegations World Cup host Qatar lavished them with cash and gifts to influence decision-making. Qatar has denied any wrongdoing.

Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP, is one of six people arrested after raids that uncovered at least $1.6 million in cash.

Greece on Monday froze assets of the key suspect in the case, 44-year-old Eva Kaili, a European Parliament vice-president and Greek socialist Member of European Parliament (MEP), after Belgian prosecutors charged her with corruption. Greek authorities also froze the assets of Kaili’s relatives.

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Three associates of the parliament's vice president were also charged after bags of cash were found in Kaili’s home shortly after she returned from an official visit to Qatar. A second MEP's house has been searched.

As part of the investigation, Belgian prosecutors searched 16 houses and seized 600,000 euros ($631,800) in the capital Brussels on Friday, when Kaili was arrested.

Qatar had been hoping its diplomatic outreach, and the glow of hosting the World Cup, would obtain EU visa facilitations for its people.

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