BRUSSELS ― In a decisive move to safeguard the integrity of its lawmakers, the European Parliament has announced plans to prevent the public naming of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) by Belgian authorities during criminal investigations. This initiative comes in response to growing concerns that the reputations of MEPs are being unjustly compromised.
Following a series of high-profile investigations that MEPs argue have tarnished the credibility of the EU institutions, Parliament President Roberta Metsola has prompted a revision of the existing protocols. The new regulations will require Belgium and other national authorities to meet more stringent criteria when seeking immunity waivers from the Parliament. Specifically, they will need to present comprehensive information regarding the allegations against the lawmakers before immunity-waiver requests can be formally considered.
“We will act where there is conjecture,” Metsola told reporters in Brussels on Thursday. “We will stand up for MEPs and the dignity of the institution. I will not accept the targeting and tarnishing of MEPs without a solid basis.”
One notable incident highlighted the urgency of these changes: MEP Giusi Princi was publicly named in the Parliament due to a request from Belgian authorities to lift her immunity in connection with corruption allegations linked to the Chinese tech company Huawei. However, this request was subsequently retracted.
A high-ranking official from the Parliament, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, emphasized that there is a clear expectation for Belgian authorities to enhance their professionalism. “Their mistakes and carelessness can extremely damage the reputation of members and EU institutions,” the official stated.
Revised immunity request procedures
Under the proposed reforms, President Metsola intends to ensure that any request for immunity waiver is accompanied by a minimum amount of pertinent information before being made public. Currently, all requests are announced during the full plenary session of Parliament, regardless of their merit or content.
Concerns over past investigations
MEPs have also pointed to the challenges surrounding Belgium’s handling of the Qatargate cash-for-influence scandal, which emerged in 2022. The judge presiding over the case, Michel Claise, resigned in June 2023 amid allegations of a conflict of interest, and defendants have called into question the legality of the proceedings, a matter that is currently under judicial review, according to a spokesperson for the Belgian prosecutor.
“If proceedings begin soon and convictions follow, then the process has worked,” said Green MEP Daniel Freund. “But if no one is convicted, if key evidence is ruled inadmissible, or if procedural errors derail the case, then we do have a serious problem.”