The European Union (EU) plans to start the process of withdrawing diplomatic immunity from two more members of the European Parliament, who are also involved in the corruption scandal that erupted in December, writes the BBC.
Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament (EP), stated that such a step was taken at the request of the Belgian police, but did not mention which parliamentarians would be deprived of their immunity.
The corruption scandal began in December when four EP officials were arrested on suspicion of corruption and money laundering, including the former EP vice-president Eva Kaili. Although the authorities have not officially named which country is responsible for the bribery, several sources in the EU have accused Qatar. Meanwhile, the Gulf state denies this, stating that such insults are unfair and based on incomplete information and prejudice.
Metsola has previously mentioned that such a wide-ranging corruption scandal is a threat to an open, free, and democratic society, and now, at the request of the police, she will start an urgent procedure to revoke the immunity of two MEPs.
First, the request to cancel diplomatic immunity must be considered by the EP on the 16th of January, and then it will go to the Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee. It will prepare a report on the allegations and put it to a general vote. Only after the vote will it be known whether parliamentarians will lose their immunity. Metsola has said that she wants to complete the whole process before the 13th of February.
All MEPs are granted a certain degree of diplomatic immunity, however, Parliament has the right to withdraw it after a particular procedure.
EP press secretary Yasmina Yakimova said last week that diplomatic immunity is not intended to allow crimes to be committed with impunity. The diplomatic immunity of the arrested Kaili was withdrawn already in December, taking into account the evidence found. Her lawyer has denied all the charges.
Belgian authorities, along with other EU countries, conducted an investigation for more than a year before arrests and searches of the detainees’ residences and offices took place.
Read also: Latvian advisor to socialist faction reportedly involved in EP corruption scandal