As part of the so-called Qatargate scandal, Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino was charged on Wednesday with bribery, membership of a criminal organisation and money laundering in connection with the case of alleged corruption in the European Parliament.
The man was nevertheless conditionally released, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office said on Wednesday. For over six months, prosecutors have been investigating attempts by Qatar and Morocco to influence economic and political decisions in the European Parliament.
The two countries are alleged to have tried to influence the decisions and resolutions of the European Parliament through former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his non-profit organisation Fight Impunity. Andrea Cozzolino is one of the MEPs suspected by the investigators of having allowed himself to be bribed, but he has always strongly rejected these allegations.
Since January 2023, Cozzolino had been under house arrest in Italy. On Monday, he finally arrived in Belgium of his own free will, having abandoned the pending proceedings in Italy and his legal challenge to the European Arrest Warrant.
The man was heard again on Monday by investigating judge Michel Claise, who was, however, to withdraw from the investigation a few hours later due to a possible conflict of interest.
