The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, said Monday that he is «very concerned» about the news of the alleged Qatari bribe to the vice president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili in the framework of a corrupt scheme to promote the interests of the Gulf country in European politics, although he pointed out that the ongoing judicial process must be respected.
In statements prior to the meeting of EU foreign ministers, Borrell said that the accusations against Kaili are «very serious» and that they concern him as a former president of the European Parliament, to then defend that the External Action Service he heads has not been splashed by the plot, nor the EU embassies abroad. «We are not affected,» he said.
«I am not a judge and there is a process underway, but the news is very very worrying,» he summed up after coming to light the plot of alleged bribes by Qatar to people who could influence decision-making in the European Parliament and that has resulted in six arrests, including Kaili and former Socialist MEP Pier-Antonio Panzeri.
During the searches, the authorities seized some 600,000 euros in cash and computer equipment and cell phones for analysis by investigators.
The European Parliament announced on Saturday the suspension of the Greek Socialist from all her competences and powers as Vice-President of the European Parliament, although not from the office itself, given the «ongoing investigations being carried out by the Belgian authorities».
The decision is by the President of the European Parliament herself, Roberta Metsola, who «has decided to suspend with immediate effect all the powers, tasks and competences delegated to Eva Kaili as vice-president» of the chamber, the spokesperson of the European Parliament has informed.
The last MEP involved in the case is the Belgian Socialist Marc Tarabella, whose home was searched by the Belgian police as part of the investigation into alleged bribery, although he has not been deprived of his liberty. In declarations to the newspaper ‘Le Soir’ he has defended himself against the accusations and has asserted that he has «never» received a gift from Qatar.
