Summary:
Huawei lobbyists banned from European Parliament due to bribery allegations.
Involvement in corruption scandal involving bribery, forgery, and money laundering.
Search operations conducted in Portugal and Belgium as part of the investigation.
The ban affects all EU representative offices in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg.
15 MEPs under investigation for alleged bribery by Huawei lobbyists.
The European Parliament has officially banned Huawei lobbyists from entering its premises in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg following serious allegations of bribery linked to the Chinese tech giant's lobbying activities. This decision was reported by Politico.
Background of the Investigation
The company has become embroiled in a corruption scandal involving preliminary accusations of active corruption, document forgery, and money laundering within the European Parliament. Belgian federal prosecutors revealed that these suspicions have led to search operations in both Portugal and Belgium, with a Portuguese consultant among those detained. The Judicial Police confirmed their participation in the investigation and related actions of this Belgian operation.
Details of the Ban
Prior to this ban, Huawei had nine individuals registered to access the Parliament's premises, with the last update in the Transparency Register occurring in October. The current prohibition extends to all EU representative offices across member states.
Allegations of Corruption
According to reports, Belgian authorities suspect that Huawei lobbyists allegedly paid bribes to European parliamentarians in exchange for support of their interests in Europe. There are currently 15 former and current Members of the European Parliament under investigation by prosecutors.
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