After the EU corruption scandal, further steps are now to follow: The European Parliament clears the way for investigations into two MPs.
In the course of the EU corruption scandal, the European Parliament has lifted the immunity of two MPs. Thursday’s move clears the way for investigations into Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella and Italy’s Andrea Cozzolino. Both politicians were until recently members of the Socialist Group. The Belgian public prosecutor had requested that the immunity of the two be lifted. Tarabella and Cozzolino maintain their innocence.
In December, the EU Parliament was shaken by the corruption scandal involving then-Vice President Eva Kaili. She lost her job on suspicion of corruption. The judiciary has charged Kaili and other suspects, who are currently in custody, with involvement in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption. It is about alleged influence on political decisions by Qatar and Morocco.
Paid arrangement in 2019
In the report of the responsible committee in parliament, Cozzolino is suspected, among other things, of having reached an agreement with others in 2019 to oppose decisions in parliament that could damage the interests of certain states. He is said to have been paid for this.
A report by the Committee on Legal Affairs says that Tarabella is suspected of having represented certain positions in the European Parliament in favor of a third country over the past two years. According to a witness statement, he received an estimated 120,000 to 140,000 euros for this.
