Belgian cops raid Huawei in European bribery probe • The Register
Belgian authorities have raided multiple premises as part of a corruption probe involving Chinese tech giant Huawei, which has also led to the sealing of two EU parliamentary offices in Brussels.
Multiple news outlets have reported that Belgian and Portuguese authorities conducted raids on Thursday as part of an ongoing corruption probe linked to Huawei. A spokesperson for the Belgian Prosecutor’s Office told reporters the investigation involves allegations of money laundering, document forgery, and bribery aimed at influencing Euro lawmakers.
Authorities reportedly searched 21 locations across Belgium and Portugal, including Huawei’s Brussels offices, resulting in several arrests.
Huawei has a zero tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws
While The Register has yet to receive official confirmation of the raids from Belgian officials, both Huawei and the European Parliament have acknowledged the investigation in statements to us.
A European Parliament spokesperson confirmed via email that Belgian authorities have requested cooperation in the probe, adding that “the Parliament will swiftly and fully honor” the request. However, they declined to comment further, directing inquiries to Belgian judicial authorities.
A Huawei spokesperson said in a statement: “Huawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation. Huawei has a zero tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times.”
Huawei’s influence in the EU has waned in recent years as several European nations have moved to restrict or ban its telecommunications equipment, citing national security concerns over potential Chinese government interference – an approach that mirrors US policy.
Similar to its reported efforts in Europe, Huawei has actively lobbied American policymakers to counteract restrictions on its access to customers and networks. However, by early 2024, the tech giant reportedly scaled back its public and government relations teams in the US and Canada, suggesting it may have abandoned efforts to persuade Washington to ease its stance.
Déjà vu in Brussels: Another corruption scandal unfolds
Multiple members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have drawn parallels between the Huawei bribery investigation and the 2022 Qatargate scandal, where Qatar allegedly paid bribes to influence EU lawmakers. Despite calls for reform in the wake of Qatargate, critics argue that little has changed.
“Despite repeated warnings from the Left that the EU Parliament is in danger of falling into yet another corruption scandal, almost nothing has been done to prevent it,” said French MEP Manon Aubry, co-chair of The Left coalition group. “We urgently need to find out how deep this scandal goes and impose tough ethics and transparency rules or lobbies will continue to slosh money around in the pockets of an increasingly corrupt institution.”
German MEP Daniel Freund, chair of the EU Parliament’s anticorruption working group and independent ethics body Rapporteur, echoed similar sentiments. “The risk of corruption increases when lobbying rules are neither monitored nor enforced,” Freund said. “That is exactly the case in Brussels.”
Transparency International EU, a German-based anticorruption NGO, said that current EU Parliament ethics rules have no provisions to stop MEPs from accepting gifts, taking on side jobs, penalizing whistleblowers, or taking work as lobbyists shortly after leaving office. The group said that it needs to change before Parliament’s reputation is further damaged by this latest scandal.
“For too long, MEPs have taken a carefree approach to ethics and continue to exist in a culture of impunity,” said Transparency International EU director Nicholas Aiossa. “If MEPs want to protect the integrity of the Parliament, they need to bring about swift, wide-ranging, and substantial ethics reform.”
The EU Parliament has reportedly temporarily banned Huawei lobbyists from accessing its premises following recent bribery allegations involving the Chinese tech giant. While this isn’t the sweeping ethics reform MEPs have demanded, it’s at least a symbolic step in response to the allegations. ®
