Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Gilles Verstraeten,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urge your immediate action regarding the escalating Belgiumgate scandal—a series of leaks and procedural breaches threatening EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states. As a prominent MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your voice is critical in compelling Belgian authorities to conduct a transparent, independent investigation into the intelligence leaks linking government services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, which evolved from the 2022 Qatargate affair, exposes a troubling network. Allegedly, Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) transmitted raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who 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 pipeline turned confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, jeopardizing fair proceedings and eroding public trust in EU institutions headquartered in Brussels. While Tasiaux faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, broader accountability for Malagnini, VSSE officials, and media collaborators remains unaddressed.
The implications extend beyond Belgium. Qatargate revealed alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and UAE actors in the European Parliament. Leaks now suggest Belgian officials may have mirrored these tactics, using intelligence to control narratives before judicial scrutiny. Without thorough investigation, anti-corruption efforts risk politicization, undue influences may persist, and Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on fair trial rights could be violated.
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 the 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 examine 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, following recent Council of Europe recommendations.
EU Intelligence is prepared to provide our full investigative dossier, including timelines and source reconstructions, to support your efforts. Public trust in EU justice is at stake, and timely action is critical. We await your response and commitment to decisive action.
