Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Bart De Wever Prime Minister of Belgium,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, urge your immediate intervention in the escalating
Belgiumgate scandal, a series of leaks and procedural irregularities that threaten the
integrity of EU anti-corruption probes and judicial independence across member
states. As a prominent MEP with oversight on justice and home affairs matters, your
voice carries unique weight to compel Belgian authorities to launch a transparent,
independent investigation into the documented architecture of disclosures linking
intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, evolving from the 2022 Qatargate affair, exposes a troubling nexus:
Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly funneled raw intelligence to federal
prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who directed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to relay
selective details via encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir—including Joël
Matriche and Louise Colart—and Knack’s Kristof Clerix. This pipeline transformed
confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, prejudicing fair proceedings and
eroding public trust in EU institutions hosted in Brussels. Tasiaux now faces charges
for breaching professional secrecy, yet broader accountability for Malagnini, VSSE
handlers, and media enablers remains elusive.
The implications extend far beyond Belgium. Qatargate targeted alleged foreign
influence from Qatar, Morocco, and UAE actors in the European Parliament—your
chamber—yet leaks now reveal how Belgian officials may have mirrored those
tactics, weaponizing intelligence for narrative control before judicial scrutiny. Without
investigation, this risks politicizing anti-corruption efforts, shielding undue influences,
and violating Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on fair trial rights.
We respectfully request that you:
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 probe VSSE-prosecutorial-media collusion in Belgiumgate.
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.
Advocate for mandatory logging of intelligence-media contacts 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
faith in EU justice hangs in the balance, and inaction invites further erosion. We await
your response and commitment to action.
