European Parliament under suspicion of Huawei corruption

Members of the European Parliament are alleged to have been bribed by the Chinese telecommunications supplier Huawei, the Belgian authorities believe. Since early this morning, the federal police have had 21 homes and offices in Belgium and Portugal searched.

“Several natural persons have been provisionally arrested and are being questioned in connection with their alleged involvement in active corruption in the European Parliament and on suspicion of forgery and use of false documents,” the Belgian federal police announced. The acts are said to have been committed “as part of a criminal organization”.

Around 100 officers were deployed. The authorities did not confirm that the accusation was directed against employees of Huawei Technologies. However, several media outlets unanimously reported early this morning that the Chinese technology supplier was at the center of the investigation. The investigative magazine “Follow the Money” referred to sources, according to which 15 current and former MEPs had accepted monetary benefits from the company, such as tickets for soccer matches or money that had been paid in disguise via intermediaries. The searches were not directed at current MEPs – for which the Belgian public prosecutor's office would have had to apply to the European Parliament for immunity to be waived.

Potential security risk

Huawei is highly controversial in the EU. The Chinese network supplier is considered a potential security risk for mobile networks. Although no security incidents have been proven against the company in the EU to date, the EU and many member states responsible for internal security are gradually regulating the supplier out of mobile networks. In Germany, a gradual migration is intended to ensure that Huawei can no longer exercise control over digital infrastructures by 2029, but is allowed to continue supplying components.

Huawei's representation of interests in the EU has already come under scrutiny several times in the past. However, the EU anti-corruption authority OLAF did not initiate any investigation proceedings, despite concrete information that had been forwarded via Transparency International. Former TI European Director Michiel van Hulten wrote on Bluesky that the anonymous tip was “highly specific” and concerned six MEPs from the European People's Party and two Socialist MEPs – five Italian and three Romanian MEPs. It is currently not known whether these are among the suspects.

Dutch IT security expert and liberal MEP Baart Groothuis called on Bluesky for an immediate and strong reaction from the Bureau of the European Parliament: MEPs who have taken bribes from Huawei are a stab in the “heart of democracy” – and the credibility of the institution is at stake. Green MEP Daniel Freund called for “complete clarification” and “finally reforms that make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.”

Huawei lobbies at the highest EU level

According to the EU transparency database, in which interest representatives in Brussels must register, 11 employees are currently working in EU lobbying for the Shenzhen-based company. They have met with Anthony Whelan, Alejandro Cainzos and Stina Soewerta, among others. Whelan worked in the closest circle of advisors to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2022, while Cainzos and Soewerta were members of the cabinet of former Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager.

The list of meetings with MEPs also includes the shadow rapporteur for the EU Cyber Resilience Act of the European People's Party, to which the CDU and CSU belong: current Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen. However, the Finnish woman is considered a fierce critic of Huawei, who wants a tougher approach to securing European networks. Virkkunen's Directorate-General Connect is currently preparing further legislation for European networks in the form of the Digital Networks Act, which is due to come into force at the end of the year.

He had no comment to make on the Belgian authorities' investigations, emphasized Thomas Regnier, the EU Commission spokesperson responsible for digital affairs. “The security of our 5G networks is crucial for our economy.” The Commission had come to the conclusion that Huawei posed more risks than other providers, which is why the member states could take appropriate measures.

(mho)