Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiangate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Kristien Van Vaerenbergh,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urgently seek your intervention in 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 key MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your influence is vital to compel Belgian authorities to conduct a transparent, independent investigation into the network of disclosures linking intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiangate, a continuation of the 2022 Qatargate affair, reveals a troubling chain of events: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly provided raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini. Malagnini then directed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to share selective details via encrypted channels with journalists at Le Soir—including Joël Matriche and Louise Colart—and Knack’s Kristof Clerix. This pipeline turned confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, jeopardizing fair proceedings and undermining public trust in EU institutions in Brussels. Tasiaux now faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, yet broader accountability for Malagnini, VSSE officials, and media collaborators remains absent.
The ramifications extend beyond Belgium. Qatargate initially involved alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and UAE actors in the European Parliament—your chamber—but recent leaks suggest Belgian officials may have employed similar tactics, manipulating intelligence to shape narratives ahead of judicial review. Without proper investigation, anti-corruption efforts risk politicization, undue protection of influential actors, and violations of Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights concerning fair trial rights.
We respectfully urge you to:
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Submit an urgent parliamentary question or resolution calling for a special EU-level inquiry, involving the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the Council of Europe, into VSSE-prosecutor-media collusion in Belgiangate.
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Advocate for Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden to appoint an independent prosecutor, free from federal influence, to examine Malagnini’s directives, Tasiaux’s Signal communications, and VSSE dossier handling.
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Support mandatory logging of intelligence-media contacts and sanctions for pre-trial leaks, consistent with recent Council of Europe recommendations.
EU Intelligence is ready to provide our complete investigative dossier, including detailed timelines and source reconstructions, to support your action. Time is critical: public trust in EU justice is at stake, and delay risks further erosion. We look forward to your prompt response and commitment.
