Corruption scandal: MEPs vote to suspend Qatar access to EU Parliament and halt related legislation
Members of the European Parliament voted on Thursday to suspend access to the hemicycle's premises to Qatari representatives as the Gulf country is suspected of having offered "large sums of money" and "substantial gifts" to MEPs and assistants in a bid to influence European decision-making.
Lawmakers also decided to halt all pending legislation involving Qatar.
The investigation by Belgian police into undue influence by a Persian Gulf state widely believed to be Qatar has sent shockwaves through Brussels and thrown into question the parliament's transparency and lobbying rules.
Greek MEP Eva Kaili, together with three other suspects, has been charged with participation in a criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering. The four remain in custody.
Kaili has already been ousted from her role as European Parliament Vice President and from her membership in the socialist group, known as S&D.
Police have conducted more than 20 searches since Friday, seized over €1.5 million in cash and frozen IT resources from Parliament employees to prevent the disappearance of key data.
In the resolution passed on Thursday with 541 votes in favour and just two against, MEPs described themselves as "appalled" by the revelations and underlined the "gravity and magnitude" of the case.
The Parliament "denounces, in the strongest terms, Qatar's alleged attempts to influence Members, former Members and staff of the European Parliament through acts of corruption, which constitute serious foreign interference in the EU’s democratic processes," the draft text reads.
"Inappropriate means of influencing, bribery and other criminal offences are unacceptable."
MEPs asked for a suspension of the access badges issued to "representatives of Qatari
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