Qatargate scandal returns years later as ex-EU official faces arrest warrant

Belgian authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for Greece’s former European Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, in connection with the Qatargate scandal, two senior Greek officials told POLITICO.

The Qatargate scandal emerged in December 2022 — after Avramopoulos had already left the European Commission — when Belgian police carried out a series of raids on properties and offices in Brussels, arrested key suspects, and seized bags of cash in what became one of the largest corruption investigations to hit the EU. The central allegations concern claims that individuals linked to the European Parliament received money or gifts in exchange for advancing Qatar’s interests.

“The former commissioner is charged with participation in a criminal organization, with authorities linking the case to the income he received from a nongovernmental organization at the heart of the scandal,” one of the senior Greek officials said.

Belgian authorities had summoned the former commissioner to give testimony nearly a year ago, but he did not appear, the second senior Greek official noted.

Former European Parliament member Pier Antonio Panzeri, former MEP Eva Kaili, and her partner Francesco Giorgi were arrested and charged with corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organisation as part of the Qatargate probe. They have since been released from custody pending trial, though the investigation has seen limited progress over the past two years.

Avramopoulos — currently a member of the Greek parliament and who served as migration commissioner between 2014 and 2019 — was an honorary board member of the Fight Impunity, established by Panzeri. He stepped down from the organisation immediately after the scandal surfaced. Belgian authorities had previously called on the former commissioner to testify, but he did not comply.

“My involvement in Fight Impunity was from the beginning completely without executive or management responsibilities,” said the former commissioner in a statement when he resigned. He added that he was paid €73,000 by the NGO between February 2021 and February 2022.

To enforce the arrest warrant, the Greek parliament would need to vote to lift Avramopoulos’ parliamentary immunity.