Qatargate: Greek MPs Strip Ex-Commissioner's Immunity

On Thursday, the Greek Parliament lifted the parliamentary immunity of former European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos, paving the way for further action by Belgian authorities investigating the Qatargate corruption scandal.

In June, a Belgian judge issued a European arrest warrant for Avramopoulos, 73, a lawmaker with the ruling New Democracy party, on suspicion of participation in a criminal organization, corruption and money laundering.

The former European commissioner denies any wrongdoing or connection to the case and says he will voluntarily appear before Belgian authorities.

Investigators allege that Qatar made cash and other payments through nonprofit organizations to influence European Union decision-making. Doha has repeatedly denied these allegations.

After leaving the European Commission, Avramopoulos served from 2020 to 2021 as an honorary member of the board of directors of the nongovernmental organization Fight Impunity, which is linked to the case. He claims that his involvement with the organization was lawful, transparent and approved. He described the Belgian authorities' linking of his name to the case as arbitrary, unacceptable and suspicious.

(Reuters, max)