Maputo, Mozambique – Four individuals arrested and charged with ‘criminal organization, money laundering, and corruption’ as authorities seek to lift immunity for two more MEPs.
AfricaHeadline Reports Team
editorial@africaheadline.com
The corruption scandal engulfing the European Parliament continues to unfold, with key figures emerging in the investigation. Belgium’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office has pointed to “large sums of money” and “substantial gifts” allegedly paid by a Gulf country—widely reported as Qatar—to influence EU policy decisions.
Belgian police have seized approximately €1.5 million in cash during multiple home and office raids, also confiscating computers to prevent evidence tampering in what has been dubbed ‘Qatargate’.
So far, four individuals have been arrested and charged with “participation in a criminal organization, money laundering, and corruption,” according to the prosecutor. All four remain in custody.
Eva Kaili
Eva Kaili’s name is on everyone’s lips in Brussels. The Greek MEP was considered a rising star within the Socialist & Democrats (S&D) group before her December 9 arrest. Known for her media-friendly approach, Kaili was first elected to the European Parliament in 2014 under Greece’s centre-left PASOK party and was re-elected in 2019.
In January 2022, she was appointed as one of the 14 Vice Presidents of the European Parliament but was dismissed following her arrest. Technically, she now holds the status of an independent MEP after being suspended from her parliamentary group, receiving a net monthly salary of €7,146. It remains unclear whether she continues to receive an additional monthly allowance of €4,778.
Although her main focus was the EU’s digital agenda, Kaili traveled to Qatar in early November, meeting with key leaders, including the Prime Minister. Weeks later, she delivered a plenary speech defending Qatar’s labor rights amid the controversy surrounding the FIFA World Cup. In early December, she voted in favor of visa liberalization for Qatari citizens.
Around €150,000 was reportedly found at her Brussels residence, which she shares with her partner, Francesco Giorgi, another suspect in the case.
Kaili’s lawyer, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, insists on her innocence, claiming she called Belgian police as soon as she learned of Giorgi’s arrest through the media—despite Giorgi not being named in initial reports.
Francesco Giorgi
According to his LinkedIn profile, Giorgi holds a degree in political science from the University of Milan and has worked as an accredited parliamentary assistant since 2009.
He started his career in the European Parliament as an aide to Pier Antonio Panzeri, an Italian Socialist MEP, before moving in 2019 to work with another Italian Socialist, Andrea Cozzolino.
Under Panzeri and Cozzolino, Giorgi was involved with the Parliament’s delegation for relations with the Maghreb region, covering Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Tunisia.
Since his December arrest, Giorgi has cooperated with Belgian authorities, revealing details about how the network operated. Documents obtained by Le Soir and La Repubblica indicate that Giorgi confessed to being part of an ‘organization’ used by Qatar and Morocco to influence EU policymaking. He reportedly tried to exonerate Kaili by shifting the blame onto his former boss, Andrea Cozzolino, and Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, alleging they received payments orchestrated by Panzeri.
Giorgi also acted as Panzeri’s translator—who does not speak English—during meetings with Qatari officials, intercepted by Belgian police, according to Le Soir.
Kaili’s lawyer claims she feels ‘betrayed’ by Giorgi, as his alleged involvement in the scheme has implicated her in the scandal.
Pier Antonio Panzeri
The Italian Socialist MEP served three terms (15 years) and is suspected of being the key middleman between the European Parliament and alleged bribes from Qatar and Morocco.
Elected in 2004, Panzeri focused on employment, social rights, foreign affairs, global security, and development aid.
He chaired the delegation for Maghreb relations from 2009 to 2017 and later served as Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights until leaving the European Parliament in 2019.
As a former MEP, Panzeri retained permanent access to the European Parliament’s premises.
In September 2019, months after the EU elections, he founded an NGO in Brussels, Fight Impunity, aimed at promoting the fight against impunity for serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
Fight Impunity is not listed in the EU Transparency Register, a database for individuals and organizations seeking to influence legislation, and shares an address with another NGO, No Peace Without Justice.
Both Kaili and Giorgi accuse Panzeri of handling the cash exchanges, with more than €600,000 reportedly found at his residence.
Belgian authorities believe Panzeri’s wife, Maria Dolores Colleoni, and daughter, Silvia Panzeri, were aware of the illicit lobbying activities and have requested their extradition from Italy. Both women deny the allegations.
Niccolò Figà-Talamanca
The Secretary-General of No Peace Without Justice, an NGO focused on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the Middle East and North Africa, has been self-suspended since his arrest.
Initially released under electronic surveillance, his bail was overturned, and he was returned to custody.
“We are confident in the integrity of his work and his innocence,” his family said in a statement. “We believe that by the end of the investigation, his position will be fully clarified, and he will be exonerated.”
Marc Tarabella
The Belgian Socialist MEP was elected in 2004 and has since been suspended from his parliamentary group, though he has not been arrested. His home was raided by police in the presence of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
Belgian authorities have requested the lifting of his parliamentary immunity, which protects MEPs from legal proceedings unless caught in the act.
Tarabella sits on several committees, including the delegation for relations with the Arabian Peninsula. In November, he defended Qatar’s labor rights during the FIFA World Cup, echoing similar arguments made by Eva Kaili.
His lawyer maintains his innocence, stating that Tarabella is willing to lose his immunity to clear his name.
Andrea Cozzolino
The Italian MEP, elected in 2019, belonged to the Socialist group until his suspension in December. He also stepped down from his position as Chair of the Maghreb delegation.
Francesco Giorgi accused Cozzolino and Tarabella of accepting bribes from Qatar and Morocco through Panzeri.
Cozzolino has not been arrested or charged, but Belgian authorities have requested the lifting of his immunity.
Other Alleged Figures
Two additional men were detained and later released in December’s raids:
- Alexandros Kailis, Eva Kaili’s father, was allegedly caught with a suitcase of cash at the Sofitel Hotel in Brussels.
- Luca Visentini, Secretary-General of the International Trade Union Confederation, admitted to accepting a €50,000 donation from the NGOs under scrutiny.
Belgian Socialist MEP Maria Arena has also been linked to the case after police sealed her assistant’s office. While denying any ties to Qatar, she resigned as Chair of the Human Rights Subcommittee after reports revealed she failed to disclose trips to the Gulf nation.
Abderrahim Atmoun, Morocco’s ambassador to Poland, has been mentioned as part of the network alongside Giorgi, Panzeri, and Cozzolino.
Moroccan intelligence agency DGED has also been suspected of involvement, but the Moroccan government has dismissed the claims as “repeated media attacks” and “legal harassment”.
