The EU said it would launch proceedings for lifting of the parliamentary immunity of two MEPsembroiled in an ongoing corruption scandal, the BBC has revealed.
The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Mezzola, said she made the decision at the request of the Belgian police.
However, his statement did not mention the names of the MPs involved.
The scandal erupted last month after one MEP and three others they were arrested on corruption and money laundering charges.
While authorities have not named the country behind the corruption ring, several EU sources have accused Qatar of leading the operation.
But the Gulf state has flatly dismissed all allegations of wrongdoing as unfair and “seriously misinformed.”
Roberta Mezzola – who has previously said the scandal demonstrated that “open, free and democratic societies are under attack” – said she now start the “emergency procedure” lift the parliamentary immunity of the two MEPs at the request of the police.
An EU source told the BBC police contacted his office on 30 December.
The request must now be presented to the full European Parliament on 16 January, before moving on to the body’s Legal Affairs Committee. A report on the allegations will then be drawn up before a vote is taken in the floor to waive the deputies’ immunity.
Mezzola said he wants the entire process completed by Feb. 13.
All MEPs enjoy limited immunity, which means they can carry out their duties, express your opinion and vote freely, without fear of arrest or political persecution.
However, the House can vote to waive their immunity after a confidential procedure. The procedure allows accused MEPs to present evidence and defend themselves.
European Parliament spokeswoman Yasmina Yakimova said last week that the purpose of immunity is to ensure that “Parliament can function”, but stressed that it is not “something that allows them to break the law more easily”.
One of the vice-presidents, Greek MEP Eva Kaili, was among those arrested during last month’s raids.
However, the 44-year-old MEP from the Socialist Group, who denies any wrongdoing, she has now been stripped of her immunity as she was caught ‘red-handed’, with police reportedly finding her with large ‘bags of money’.
His lawyer has dismissed claims that he accepted bribes amid reports that €150,000 was found in his Brussels flat.
Sources say more were found at the home of one of the suspects 600,000 eurosand in a suitcase in a hotel room in Brussels – 750,000 euros.
He remains in custody together with his comrade Francesco Giorgi and former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri.
During a hearing last month, it emerged that the Belgian state security service VSSE worked on the investigation of corruption allegations for more than a year with the help of other EU countries.
