Former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said he will respond to allegations linked to the Qatargate corruption case before a Greek judge, after Belgian authorities issued a European arrest warrant against him, he told CNA.
The case centres on Avramopoulos’ past links with a non-governmental organisation founded by former Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri, a key figure in the Qatargate probe.
The warrant reached Greece’s Ministry of Justice on Tuesday and is being forwarded to parliament to initiate procedures to lift Avramopoulos’ immunity, in line with parliamentary rules. The former commissioner said he will present his position before the relevant committee and plenary session and respond to all questions.
According to information, Avramopoulos faces allegations of participation in a criminal organisation, with Belgian authorities linking the case to a financial benefit of around €73,000. While reports say he received €5,000 per month from the organisation, he told CNA the amount was €3,000.
Avramopoulos said he would request the lifting of his immunity but insisted that any explanations required would be given before a Greek judge.
Regarding a request from Belgian prosecutors six months ago to testify, he said that as a sitting MP in Greece, representation before Belgian authorities should have been handled by the European Commission. There was no immediate comment from the Commission.
His involvement with the organisation, the Association Against Impunity and for Transitional Justice, also known as ‘Fight Impunity’, had been examined by the European Commission’s Independent Ethical Committee, which issued an opinion on 10 December 2020.
Review found no legal obstacle to role
The review began in September 2020 after the Commission’s Secretary-General requested an assessment of whether Avramopoulos’ planned role was compatible with EU treaty rules.
According to the opinion, his role involved participation in a non-statutory honorary board supporting the organisation’s management, including promoting its objectives within and outside the EU, taking part in campaigns and conferences, networking, attending annual meetings and publishing articles.
The position was paid for one year from 1 October, reflecting what Avramopoulos had described as an active role in promoting the organisation internationally.
The committee concluded that there was no legal obstacle to the role, provided obligations under EU rules and the Commission’s code of conduct were respected. These include restrictions on lobbying in areas linked to a former commissioner’s portfolio for two years after leaving office.
According to the Commission’s financial transparency system, the organisation did not receive EU funding, with its main backer identified as the Sekunjalo Development Foundation.
Members of the organisation’s honorary board at the time included former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, former French prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve and former Italian foreign minister Emma Bonino.
Qatargate scandal - four years on
The Qatargate scandal emerged in December 2022 following police raids in Brussels that led to the arrest of former European Parliament vice-president Eva Kaili and her partner Francesco Giorgi, who had worked with Panzeri. Kaili’s father was also arrested with a suitcase of cash.
Cash seizures exceeded €1 million, while total assets seized reached around €1.5 million. Belgian prosecutors said their investigation uncovered a system of payments allegedly linking current and former MEPs with interests in Qatar and Morocco, triggering a major political fallout in the European Parliament.
Other figures implicated include Italian and Belgian MEPs, trade union leader Luca Visentini and parliamentary aides.
Avramopoulos’ name first surfaced in the investigation in December 2022 due to his previous association with Panzeri’s organisation. He has said his honorary role had ended before the scandal broke.
A European Commission spokesperson said the institution has not received any request to lift Avramopoulos’ immunity in relation to his time as commissioner and declined to comment on ongoing proceedings in Belgium and Greece.
The Commission also confirmed it had approved Avramopoulos’ paid role in the organisation in February 2021, following the ethics committee’s opinion. As both a former commissioner and current Greek MP, any lifting of immunity would follow separate procedures under EU and Greek law.
Source: CNA
