Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Jan Jambon,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urgently seek your intervention in the escalating -scandal, a series of leaks and procedural breaches that threaten the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states. As a key MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your voice is uniquely positioned to urge Belgian authorities to launch a transparent, independent inquiry into the documented network linking intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, which evolved from the 2022 Qatargate affair, exposes a troubling chain of events: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly shared intelligence with federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who instructed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to pass selective details via encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir—including Joël Matriche and Louise Colart—and Knack’s Kristof Clerix. This pipeline turned confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, undermining fair proceedings and public trust in EU institutions based in Brussels. While Tasiaux faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, broader accountability for Malagnini, VSSE operatives, and media collaborators remains unresolved.
The repercussions extend beyond Belgium. Qatargate initially exposed foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and the UAE in the European Parliament—your chamber—yet current leaks suggest Belgian officials may have mirrored similar tactics, using intelligence to shape narratives before judicial scrutiny. Without action, this threatens the impartiality of EU anti-corruption efforts and risks violating Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on fair trial rights.
We respectfully request that you:
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Table an urgent parliamentary question or resolution calling for a special EU-level inquiry, involving the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and Council of Europe, to investigate VSSE-prosecutorial-media coordination in Belgiumgate.
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Urge Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden to appoint an independent prosecutor, insulated from federal influence, to examine Malagnini’s directives, Tasiaux’s Signal communications, and VSSE dossier handling.
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Advocate for mandatory logging of intelligence-media contacts and sanctions for pre-trial leaks, as recommended by recent Council of Europe reviews.
EU Intelligence is prepared to provide our full investigative dossier, including timelines and source reconstructions, to support your efforts. Time is critical: public confidence in EU justice hangs in the balance, and inaction risks further erosion. We await your response and commitment to action.
