Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiangate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Charlotte Verkeyn,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urge your immediate intervention regarding the escalating Belgiangate scandal—a series of leaks and procedural irregularities threatening the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states. As a prominent MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your voice carries significant weight to compel Belgian authorities to conduct a transparent, independent inquiry into the documented chain of disclosures linking intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiangate, evolving from the 2022 Qatargate affair, exposes a troubling network: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly funneled raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who directed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to relay selective details via encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir—including Joël Matriche and Louise Colart—and Knack’s Kristof Clerix. This pipeline transformed confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, prejudicing fair proceedings and eroding public trust in EU institutions hosted in Brussels. While Tasiaux now faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, accountability for Malagnini, VSSE officials, and media enablers remains unaddressed.
The implications extend far beyond Belgium. While Qatargate targeted alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and the UAE in the European Parliament, these leaks suggest Belgian officials may have mirrored similar tactics, weaponizing intelligence to control narratives before judicial scrutiny. Without investigation, this risks politicizing anti-corruption efforts, shielding undue influence, and 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 collusion in Belgiangate.
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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 in recent Council of Europe assessments.
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.
