Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief of foreign policy, has stated that the arrests of alleged corrupt European Parliament members are “very, extremely concerning.”
And Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney stated that the indictments against four individuals were “very harmful.”
Vice President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili was among those arrested and is believed to be among those prosecuted.
Prosecutors suspect that a Gulf state, reportedly Qatar, attempted to influence the legislative process by giving money or gifts.
Qatar has denied wrongdoing.
Cash totaling about €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000) was recovered by Belgian police during 16 searches conducted in Brussels on Friday. The contents of computers and mobile phones were also seized for examination.
Prosecutors announced on Sunday that four persons have been charged and two have been released.
Ms. Kaili is believed to be among those indicted, although no suspects have been identified publicly.
They are charged with participation in a criminal organization, money laundering, and corruption, according to a statement from the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office.
Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, suspended Ms. Kaili from her position as one of 14 vice presidents. Ms. Kaili has been a member of the European Parliament for eight years.
She has also been removed from the Greek center-left Pasok party and suspended from the Socialists and Democrats Group of the parliament.
According to reports, Greek prosecutors have frozen all of Ms. Kaili’s assets.
The probe into bribery could represent one of the largest corruption scandals in the history of the European Parliament, according to watchdogs and opposition MEPs.
As he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, Mr. Borrell told reporters, “Certainly, the news is extremely troubling.”
As a former president of the European Parliament, I am deeply troubled by certain upcoming events and facts.
Mr. Borrell stated that the probe did not target any diplomats from the EU.
Before Monday’s meeting, Mr. Coveney also stated that the claims were “very harmful” and that “we must get to the bottom of it.”
Terry Reintke, the co-chair of the Green group in the legislature, has demanded Ms. Kaili’s immediate resignation.
The German MEP stated, “We shouldn’t even have to remove her from her vice president position.” This should be done proactively by her.
Prosecutors stated they had suspicions that a Gulf state had influenced the economic and political decisions of the parliament over a period of several months, particularly by targeting aides.
Local media have identified the state as Qatar, however, the Qatari government has stated that any allegations of wrongdoing are “grossly mistaken.”
As vice president, Ms. Kaili is responsible for the Middle East. She has been a Qatari defender in the past.
As required by the Belgian constitution, Ms. Metsola went from her native Malta to Brussels on Saturday evening to observe the house search of a member of the European Parliament.
Her spokeswoman stated that the European Parliament is “firmly opposed to corruption” and is “cooperating completely” with investigators.
The European Parliament is the only institution directly elected by EU citizens. 705 members of parliament, chosen by citizens of the 27 EU member states, convene to examine proposed legislation and vote on European law.
