The Belgian judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos as part of its ongoing, sprawling investigation into the “Qatargate” corruption scandal.
The long-running probe centers on allegations that Qatar and Morocco sought to influence decision-making within the European Parliament through illicit cash payments and lavish gifts distributed to both current and former lawmakers. Both nations have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
To advance the case, Belgian authorities are formally seeking the waiver of Avramopoulos’s parliamentary immunity so he can be formally interrogated.
From Brussels to Athens: A High-Profile Target
Avramopoulos served as the EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs, and Citizenship between 2014 and 2019 under then-Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. He is currently an elected member of the Greek Parliament representing the ruling conservative New Democracy party.
The core of the Belgian prosecutors’ interest stems from his ties to Fight Impunity, an NGO founded by former MEP Antonio Panzeri—a central figure in the corruption scandal who has since struck a plea deal with authorities.
- The Accusation: Belgian prosecutors allege that Avramopoulos received funds originating from what they characterize as a “criminal network.”
- The Defense: Avramopoulos strongly denies any wrongdoing, insisting that all funds received were fully transparent, declared to Greek tax authorities, and legally vetted.
- The Legal Process: Belgian authorities have officially notified their Greek counterparts. The request will now transition from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office, and finally through the Ministry of Justice to the Greek Parliament for a vote on lifting his immunity.
Honorary Status and Formally Approved Payments
In statements addressing his ties to Fight Impunity, the former commissioner has maintained that his involvement was entirely honorary and stripped of any executive or managerial responsibilities. He served on the honorary board alongside other prominent European dignitaries, including former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and former French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
“Avramopoulos emphasized that he sought and obtained written approval from the European Commission before accepting the role, with the EU’s Independent Ethical Committee issuing a positive opinion on December 10, 2020.”
According to financial disclosures provided by Avramopoulos:
- He received €5,000 per month between February 2021 and February 2022.
- All payments were declared and taxed in Greece in strict compliance with national law.
- He requested the termination of these payments in February 2022 due to the NGO’s dwindling activities, officially cutting ties the following month.
Following the initial public eruption of the Qatargate scandal—which also led to the high-profile detention of Greek MEP Eva Kaili—Avramopoulos resigned immediately from the organization and demanded the removal of his name from its platform.
While Belgian authorities are pushing aggressively for questioning, Avramopoulos has not been convicted of any crime, and no final judicial ruling has been established regarding the allegations.
