European Prosecutor requests immunity of two Greek MEPs to be lifted

The European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Codruța Kövesi, requested on Thursday the lifting of immunity of two Greek Members of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili and Maria Spyraki, over suspicions of committing fraud.

The prosecutor’s workplace mentioned the petition was indirectly linked to the widening corruption scandal sending shockwaves by means of Brussels.

“Primarily based on an investigative report obtained from the European Anti-Fraud Workplace (OLAF), there’s a suspicion of fraud detrimental to the EU price range, in relation to the administration of the parliamentary allowance, and particularly regarding the remuneration of Accredited Parliamentary Assistants,” the prosecutor mentioned in a brief assertion.

“In accordance with the nationwide relevant legislation, Ms Kaili and Ms Spyraki are entitled to the presumption of innocence.”

Below EU legislation, MEPs can’t be topic to any type of inquiry, detention or authorized proceedings due to opinions expressed or votes solid of their capability as democratically-elected legislators.

Eva Kaili is the MEP on the centre of the continuing corruption scandal. She was arrested on Friday, suspected of illicit lobbying in favour of a Gulf nation, extensively believed to be Qatar.

She has been charged with participation in a prison organistaion, corruption and cash laudering, and stays in custody alongside three different suspects, together with her accomplice, Francesco Giorgi. She is to look in entrance of a decide for a pre-trial listening to on 22 December. 

A number of places of work of parliamentary assistants have been sealed as a part of the continuing investigation. Belgian police have additionally frozen IT sources from parliament staff to stop the disappearance of key knowledge.

Kaili has been already ousted from her function as European Parliament Vice President and member of the socialist group, often known as S&D.

Her arrest was potential as a result of she was reportedly caught within the act, the one circumstance that instantly revokes parliamentary immunity.

Kaili’s staff has not replied to a number of media requests despatched by Euronews. Her lawyer has defended her innocence, saying she “had nothing to do with bribery from Qatar.”

Maria Spyraki can also be a Greek MEP however she sits with the centre-right European Individuals’s Get together (EPP). She acts as vice-chair of the parliament’s delegation for relations with China.

Euronews reached out to Spyraki asking for remark. In her first reply, she expressed shock on the information and requested for the press launch from the European Public Prosecutor’s Workplace (EPPO) to be despatched to her by WhatsApp.

“I gladly settle for the request of the EPPO to waive my immunity in an effort to present that I’ve not obtained a single euro of a monetary dispute with the European Parliament,” Spyraki mentioned in a second response to Euronews.

“The matter considerations the allowance of a overseas former colleague of mine, who had a critical private downside and had some absences from the (European Parliament’s) liaison room. I’ve nothing to do with the QatarGate and I’ve nothing to do with another case.”

Regardless of the timing of the announcement and the reference to Kaili, an EPPO spokesperson advised Euronews that the request for immunity waivers had been a part of a separate, distinct investigation.

“We don’t touch upon our investigation and we can’t say something concerning the Belgian investigation. It is two investigations,” a spokesperson advised Euronews.

“Please be aware that we’re additionally in contact with the Belgian federal prosecutor’s workplace over competence within the Qatar investigation.”

The European Parliament confirmed it had obtained the prosecutor’s requests, which can now be examined by the committee on authorized affairs.

“We should keep away from confusion and be very clear: this info shouldn’t be associated to the #Qatargate, however a separate inquiry performed by (the European Chief Prosecutor) concerning the administration of two MEPs’ parliamentary allowance,” Adrián Vázquez Lázara, the MEP who chairs the committee, mentioned on Twitter.

Arrange in June 2021, the EPPO is an impartial workplace accountable for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes towards the EU’s monetary pursuits, equivalent to fraud, cash laundering and corruption.

This text has been up to date to incorporate new reactions and developments.