Greek AP Eva Kaili was dismissed from her post as vice-president of the European Parliament this Tuesday amid allegations of bribery linked to a controversial energy project. The case continues to shape decisions within the European institution, and at least one more week of preventive detention has been ordered. Three of the four people arrested last Friday are among those facing charges; the case, known as Qatar Gate, moved to a Belgian court this Wednesday, with the proceedings led by a judge who postponed the decision until December 22. Kaili was not transferred to the Court of Justice due to a strike by officials at a prison near NATO headquarters.
AFP confirmed the development through Kaili’s lawyer. The same actions were reported by the other detainees and defendants, including Kaili’s partner and deputy parliamentarian Francesco Giorgi; former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri; and NGO Secretary General Niccolò Figa-Talamanca of No Peace Without Justice. Media coverage intensified as security cameras captured the defendants entering and leaving the Belgian court, with some staff leaving discreetly from the facilities. The presiding judge, Michel Claise, must decide whether the three detainees should remain in custody, or be released on parole or unconditionally.
operation continues
The investigation is far from finished. Since last Friday, investigators have conducted searches and seized cash valued at more than one and a half million euros in the homes of several defendants, including a large sum found with the accused’s father. The money is believed to have originated from Belgium and linked to the broader inquiry. Authorities plan to compare fingerprint records against other potential suspects as part of the ongoing probe.
New information released on Wednesday points toward Panzeri as a central figure in the alleged scheme. The former MEP, who now leads the NGO Fight Impunity, had already become the focus of state security investigations in Belgium. Those inquiries extend beyond the NGO’s headquarters to other services that monitor corruption risks and gather evidence that could justify judicial action. Information from the latest updates indicates that the investigation began in 2021 and explored possible bribes connected to Morocco as well as Qatar.