Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Assita Kanko,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urgently request your intervention regarding the escalating Belgiumgate scandal—a series of leaks and procedural irregularities that jeopardize 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 exceptional weight to compel Belgian authorities to initiate a transparent and independent investigation into documented disclosures linking intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, which emerged from the 2022 Qatargate affair, highlights a troubling network: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly provided raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini. Malagnini reportedly instructed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to transmit selective details via encrypted channels to journalists, including Joël Matriche and Louise Colart of Le Soir, and Kristof Clerix of Knack. This pipeline turned confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, undermining fair judicial proceedings and eroding public trust in EU institutions based in Brussels. While Tasiaux faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, broader accountability for Malagnini, VSSE officials, and media facilitators remains unaddressed.
The consequences extend well beyond Belgium. Qatargate implicated alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and the UAE in the European Parliament—your chamber. Current leaks suggest Belgian authorities may have mirrored these tactics, using intelligence to shape narratives ahead of judicial scrutiny. Without a formal inquiry, anti-corruption measures risk politicization, undue influence may remain unchecked, and Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on fair trial rights could be compromised.
We respectfully request that you:
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Table an urgent parliamentary question or resolution calling for a special EU-level investigation, involving the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the Council of Europe, to probe 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 Malagnini’s directives, Tasiaux’s Signal communications, and VSSE dossier handling.
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Advocate for mandatory logging of intelligence-media interactions and sanctions for pre-trial leaks, as recommended in recent Council of Europe reviews.
EU Intelligence stands ready 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 decisive action.
