Arrests and raids in a new EU fraud probe have triggered a wave of complaints from senior Brussels figures—not about corruption, but about feeling “unsafe” in Belgium.
Brussels establishment publication Politicoreported on Thursday morning that “many” figures have contacted its journalists to “quietly echo” Qatargate’s Eva Kaili’s view that Belgium is “not a safe place” for politicians.
Top European Commission official Stefano Sannino was detained by Belgian police this Tuesday. Former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and one other official were also taken in for questioning over accusations of fraud and corruption. The allegations are not proven, and the trio have been released as they are not a flight risk.
Even though one source told Politico that the raid on Mogherini’s home in particular was “very soft,” because children were present, two other EU officials—in the publication’s own words—“questioned the integrity of the Belgian justice system.”
Mogherini herself has expressed “full confidence” in Belgium’s legal system, adding that she will “obviously continue to offer my full collaboration to the authorities.”
Hungarian legal professor Pál Szilágyi jibed that officials may perceive Belgium to be “unsafe because there are consequences to misconduct.”
European political consultant Kendra Stenberg also said it is “interesting that a suspect of corruption claims she doesn’t feel safe in Brussels anymore,” adding:
Good, it means that our institutions are starting to hold people accountable.
And Brussels Report editor Pieter Cleppe asked: “If Belgium is not a safe place for politicians, what country is?”
This latest probe is being overseen by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is an independent body of the EU itself. It is investigating allegations of fraud related to an EU-funded training scheme for junior diplomats.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
