It is known that there are about 13 thousand entities recognized as lobbyists with European institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg. It is a legal activity, but MEPs and their offices are obligated, under the transparency rules they have adopted under lobbying, to make any and all contacts with these lobby groups public.
A flaw in these transparency rules has now been exposed: the rule that establishes the duty to authorize all communications does not extend to the government of any country outside the European Union.
It is the loophole used by Greek socialist Eva Kaili. Three weeks ago, before the plenary session of the European Parliament one of its 14 vice-presidents declared that the EU had no “moral right to intend to teach lessons” (to Qatar), it was presented as a model of “social progress” for the way it organized World Cup facilities.
It is a fact that this speech was rejected by the MEPs. Even his teammates refused to go along with their praises for the millionaire and authoritarian emirate that plotted to use the World Cup as an image-washing operation.
Belgian investigative judge Michel Cleese, who was known to be a football lover but also known to be ruthless with financial crimes and various forms of corruption, was already investigating suspicious evidence related to the European Parliament vice-president and some of his close associates.
And he chose to close the European institutions, at the end of last Friday afternoon, to send in special units of the Belgian police, framed by magistrates, for daring house searches.
The police had a mandate to enforce entry into the residences of people of the European elite, in this case the deputy speaker of parliament and, among others, a former EU leader.
Judge Cleese’s audacity led to evidence confirming the suspicion: the vice president was at home, according to the respected Belgian newspaper le bracelet750 thousand euros in banknotes. She is taken to Judge Cleese to explain the origin of this strange money in the house. Kylie could not find a reasonable explanation for the large amount of money in a suitcase and was arrested. Parliamentary immunity fell in the face of the situation constituting red flags.
The small European political world in Brussels (and Strasbourg) was in shock. It must be admitted that there was no delay in the political response, and there was no one waiting for the verdicts of justice: the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, immediately withdrew the mandate of this Vice-President, and PASOK, the Greek Socialist. tip, right on cue after exclusion of the toxic deputy.
This Qatargate program occurred at a start that was meant to be applauded in the European Parliament, as MEPs moved to their original, more emblematic seat in Strasbourg. This case, which is still in the preliminary investigation stages, has the effect of an earthquake that shook the political summit of Europe.
The European Union has strengthened transparency rules in recent years. The European Commission, headed by Ursula van der Leyen, has shown that it is very serious about combating the misuse of European funds.
Undaunted, European Brussels decided to start an arm-wrestling match with Hungary led by Viktor Orban, for not adhering to the moral obligations of European democracy.
The buying and selling of interests between Qatar and the former Vice-President of the European Parliament (who else?) presents the main Hungarian arguments for discrediting EU democracy.
A bigger problem: the distortion that leaves its mark on the confidence in those who proclaim the greatness of European values. The former vice president has rendered a service that is certainly welcome by the extremists attacking the European model. Both Putin and the Chinese leadership should laugh.
There is another side to this story: Where did the Qatari process of buying influencers come from?
“Hardcore alcohol maven. Hipster-friendly analyst. Introvert. Devoted social media advocate.”
