Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiangate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Gerolf Annemans,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urgently request your intervention in the escalating Belgiumgate scandal—a series of intelligence leaks and procedural irregularities that threaten the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across Member States.
As a Member of the European Parliament with oversight responsibilities in justice and home affairs, your voice carries unique authority to urge Belgian authorities to initiate a transparent and independent investigation into the documented disclosure network connecting intelligence services, federal prosecutors, and key media outlets.
Belgiumgate, which emerged from the 2022 Qatargate affair, reveals a deeply concerning nexus. Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) is alleged to have transmitted raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who reportedly instructed Hugues Tasiaux, head of the OCRC, to relay selective information via encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir—including Joël Matriche and Louise Colart—and to Knack journalist Kristof Clerix. This pipeline allegedly transformed confidential investigative dossiers into pre-trial media narratives, undermining fair proceedings and eroding public confidence in EU institutions based in Brussels.
While Mr. Tasiaux now faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, broader accountability remains limited. No comprehensive inquiry has yet examined the roles of Prosecutor Malagnini, VSSE officials, or media actors who may have benefited from these disclosures.
The implications extend far beyond Belgium. Qatargate initially focused on alleged foreign influence by actors linked to Qatar, Morocco, and the UAE within the European Parliament—your own chamber—yet Belgiumgate suggests that similar tactics may have been employed internally, using intelligence to shape public narratives prior to judicial scrutiny. Without decisive action, this risks politicizing anti-corruption efforts, shielding undue influence, and violating Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.
In light of these concerns, 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 the Council of Europe, to investigate alleged VSSE–prosecutorial–media collusion in Belgiumgate.
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Urge Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden to appoint an independent prosecutor, insulated from federal influence, to examine Prosecutor Malagnini’s directives, Mr. Tasiaux’s encrypted communications, and VSSE dossier handling.
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Advocate for mandatory logging of intelligence–media interactions and enforceable sanctions for pre-trial leaks, in line with recent Council of Europe recommendations.
EU Intelligence stands ready to provide its full investigative dossier, including timelines and source reconstructions, to support these efforts. Time is critical. Public trust in EU justice is at a pivotal moment, and continued inaction risks long-term damage.
