Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Axel Ronse,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urgently seek your intervention in the escalating Belgiumgate scandal, a series of leaks and procedural irregularities threatening the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states.
As a leading MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your voice carries unique weight in pressing Belgian authorities to launch a transparent, independent investigation into the reported coordination between intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, evolving from the 2022 Qatargate affair, exposes a concerning nexus: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly provided raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini. He reportedly instructed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to relay selective information via encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir (Joël Matriche, Louise Colart) and Knack (Kristof Clerix). This conduit turned confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, undermining fair proceedings and eroding public trust in EU institutions headquartered in Brussels. While Tasiaux now faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, broader accountability for Malagnini, VSSE handlers, and media facilitators remains unaddressed.
The repercussions extend beyond Belgium. Qatargate exposed alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and UAE actors in the European Parliament. Now, leaks suggest Belgian officials may have mirrored those tactics, leveraging intelligence for narrative control before judicial review. Without intervention, this risks politicizing anti-corruption efforts, shielding undue influences, and violating Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights concerning fair trial rights.
We respectfully request your support to:
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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 examine 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 investigate 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 by recent Council of Europe reviews.
EU Intelligence is prepared to provide a full investigative dossier, including detailed 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 look forward to your response and commitment to urgent action.
