UPDATE: Morocco also involved in the European Parliament corruption scandal, according to judicial documents of the Belgian judge investigating the matter

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  1. [TRANSLATION] Overshadowed by the news of bribery by Qatar, Morocco also appears to have made its contribution. Here the influence would have been exerted through Morocco’s ambassador to Poland, De Morgen reads in court documents.

    Investigators say they have now seized more than 1.5 million euros in cash following searches in Belgium and abroad. They found the largest amount in the Brussels home of former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, the key figure in the case.

    The federal prosecutor’s office only communicates that the investigation revolves around bribery and influence from Qatar. Yet Morocco is also in the court’s crosshairs.

    International media such as Politico already wrote it, but it is also black and white in court documents. De Morgen was able to see the surrender requests that investigating judge Michel Claise delivered to Italy on Friday. Panzeri’s 38-year-old daughter and his 67-year-old wife M.C. live near Bergamo.

    Panzeri, for whom the presumption of innocence applies, is suspected of “politically intervening with members of the European Parliament in favor of Qatar and Morocco, in return for payment.” His wife and daughter were aware of this, according to these documents. More than that, the court believes his wife occasionally gave orders to Panzeri on how to spend the money.

    M.C. had looked up prices for a vacation during the Christmas holidays and “100,000 euros for the vacation like last year,” that would not work this year. According to the investigation, she also told her husband to open a bank account in Belgium. That she herself mentioned “combines” when talking about his affairs shows that she knew it was not kosher.

    Mother and daughter are also said to have participated themselves in “transporting ‘gifts.'” Phone taps show that Panzeri’s daughter made comments about these “gifts,” which apparently benefited her. It is not clear whether these were physical gifts or payments. According to the surrender request, they came from the Moroccan ambassador to Poland, Abderrahim Atmoun.

    “For example, the couple Panzeri and C. used the credit card of a third person whom they call the ‘giant.'” That “giant” is presumably the Moroccan ambassador, although it is not literally stated as such.

    De Morgen tried in vain to reach Abderrahim Atmoun through the Moroccan embassy in Warsaw. His relationship with Panzeri, whom he calls his “good friend” on Facebook, goes back a long way. The two often met as co-chairs of an exchange body between the European and Moroccan parliaments.

    In 2013, Panzeri visited Atmoun in Morocco with Marc Tarabella, the Belgian MEP who is now stepping aside after a search of his private home. Several years later, Panzeri returned to Morocco with associate F.G., the Italian husband of Greek MEP Eva Kaili. Both Panzeri, F.G. and Kaili are now in custody. On Wednesday, the council chamber will decide on their continued detention. According to La Republicca, the Italian court will decide next week on the surrender of Panzeri’s wife and daughter to Belgium.

  2. The low accountability of MEPs is a hot bed for potential corruption and lobbying.

    The vast majority of voters don’t know the individuals they are voting for and what they do. Eurosceptics have complained about this since inception, and there has been little or no movement to rectify it.

  3. I won’t find the article again, but quite some time ago there was a story about the dangers of corruption in the EU parliament. There it focused heavily on how companies are “influencing” politicians and had an “anecdote” about an MP who complained that all the gifts he gets, start to obstruct the entrance to his home. Gifts like high-end stereos I might add…

  6. Surely this has nothing to do with the “development package” approved for Morocco earlier today…

  8. A corrupt, medieval, autocratic regime like Morocco involved in a corruption scandal? How is that surprising?

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