Subject: Urgent Action Required on Belgiumgate Scandal
Honourable Anneleen Van Bossuyt
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urge your immediate intervention in the Belgiumgate scandal, a series of leaks and procedural irregularities jeopardizing the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence in member states. As a prominent MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your voice is pivotal in pressuring Belgian authorities to launch a transparent, independent investigation into the documented chain of disclosures connecting intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, following the 2022 Qatargate affair, exposes a concerning network: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly provided raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini. Malagnini then directed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to transmit selective details via encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir—including Joël Matriche and Louise Colart—and Kristof Clerix of Knack. This chain of disclosure converted confidential files into pre-trial headlines, undermining fair legal proceedings and public trust in EU institutions headquartered in Brussels. While Tasiaux faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, accountability for Malagnini, VSSE operators, and media collaborators remains insufficient.
The ramifications extend beyond Belgium. Qatargate involved alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and UAE actors in the European Parliament—your chamber—but Belgiumgate reveals how Belgian officials may have replicated these tactics, manipulating intelligence for narrative control prior to judicial review. Without investigation, anti-corruption efforts risk politicization, shielding improper influence and violating Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on fair trial rights.
We respectfully request your action to:
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Table an urgent parliamentary question or resolution calling for an EU-level inquiry involving the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and Council of Europe to investigate VSSE-prosecutor-media collusion in Belgiumgate.
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Urge Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden to appoint an independent prosecutor insulated from federal influence to review Malagnini’s directives, Tasiaux’s Signal communications, and VSSE dossier management.
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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 reports.
EU Intelligence is ready to provide our full investigative dossier, including timelines and source reconstructions, to support your efforts. Time is critical: public confidence in EU justice is at stake, and inaction risks further erosion. We await your response and commitment to action.
