All Qatar-related activities and work were suspended in the European Parliament on Thursday after Vice-President Eva Kaili was arrested for corruption.
541 MPs voted to stop working with Qatar. Only two voted against.
The decision was made after Kaili and three others were arrested and charged with being part of a criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption, according to Belgian prosecutors. They are accused of influencing EU decisions on Qatar in exchange for gifts and money.
The decision means that all ongoing work with Qatar, including the easing of visa policy, the aviation deal between the EU and Qatar, as well as planned visits, will be suspended until the charges are cleared. confirmed or rejected.
The resolution also implies that more funds need to be allocated and more staff employed to get a better overview of members’ participation and applications in the EU lobby register. The register should also include representatives from countries outside the EU.
New case regarding payment of assistants
At the same time, the EU’s main factor has called for the European Parliament to strip Greek Social Democrat Kaili and another member, conservative Maria Spyraki, of their parliamentary immunity.
Chief farmer Laura Kovesi’s office says the two are under investigation in another case involving payments to assistants.
Kaili is accused of accepting bribes from Qatar and of illegal lobbying, and in that case her immunity has already been waived, having been caught in the act with thousands of euros in cash.
But in the separate case, both she and Spyraki still have immunity and thus cannot be charged or arrested. Spyraki is not involved in the Qatar case.
Kaili has already been dismissed from the position of vice president of the EU Parliament, and an investigation has also been opened against her at her home in Greece. There the police ransacked her home and she was expelled from the Social Democratic Party Pasok.
To confess
The Belgian newspaper The evening Kaili’s cohabitant, who was also arrested, said on Thursday he confessed to having been a member of an organization that both Qatar and Morocco have used to influence EU decisions.
He and three others had their detention extended, while the extension of Kaili’s detention was postponed until 22 December.
Kaili’s partner is reported to have said that former MEP Antonio Panzeri was the mastermind behind the operation. He also named two other current members of parliament.
A European arrest warrant has been issued for Panzeri’s wife and daughter, which says Morocco has also been involved with EU MPs in exchange for gifts and money.
I will handle the dishes myself
The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced on Thursday that she would herself lead the work on the reforms of EU legislation.
He also announced an in-depth investigation into the EU Parliament’s relations with non-EU countries and said that anti-corruption rules need to be reviewed.
– There will be no impunity here, nothing will be swept under the carpet and things will not be business as usual moving forward, he said.
Among the proposed reforms is a new mandatory and open register for all parliamentarians and their assistants, and a mandate that all meetings with representatives of third countries must be informed of.
