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Former MEP makes deal with prosecutors amid EU corruption scandal

Wednesday, 18 January 2023 2:19 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 18 January 2023 6:45 AM ]

Jerome Hughes

Press TV, Brussels

Former EU lawmaker Pier Antonio Panzeri was among those arrested by Belgium police last month as part of a probe into a cash-for-favours scheme, allegedly involving Qatar and Morocco. He has just signed a deal with prosecutors to name names in return for a reduced sentence.

On Tuesday, during a debate in the European Parliament on the scandal, the EU itself was accused of corruptly targeting some of its own member states.

Belgian police have recovered more than €1.5m in cash following dozens of raids. So far, the scandal mainly involves members of the S&D political grouping in the European Parliament.

Sitting Greek MEP Eva Kaili is among four currently behind bars awaiting trial. Lawmakers are demanding that an EU-wide ethics body is established. Aside from the parliament scandal, each year millions of euro go unaccounted for from the EU budget. This, as ordinary citizens struggle to make ends meet.

Some lawmakers say the EU is showing a great deal of hypocrisy given that so much is said here about rule of law problems elsewhere.

Sources tell us Belgian police will almost certainly make more arrests in the coming days as part of the European Parliament corruption probe.

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