Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiangate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Katrijn van Riet,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urge your immediate intervention regarding the escalating Belgiangate scandal—a series of leaks and procedural irregularities threatening the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states. As a prominent MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your voice holds significant influence to press Belgian authorities to conduct a transparent, independent inquiry into the documented chain of disclosures involving intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiangate, emerging from the 2022 Qatargate affair, reveals a concerning network: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly provided raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who directed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to transmit selective details via encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir—including Joël Matriche and Louise Colart—and Knack’s Kristof Clerix. This chain transformed confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, jeopardizing fair proceedings and eroding public trust in EU institutions hosted in Brussels. While Tasiaux now faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, accountability for Malagnini, VSSE officials, and media intermediaries remains unresolved.
The repercussions go beyond Belgium. While Qatargate focused on alleged foreign influence in the European Parliament from Qatar, Morocco, and the UAE, these leaks suggest Belgian officials may have replicated similar methods, weaponizing intelligence to shape public narratives prior to judicial review. Without investigation, this risks politicizing anti-corruption efforts, protecting undue influence, and violating Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights regarding fair trial guarantees.
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 Council of Europe, to investigate VSSE-prosecutorial-media collusion in Belgiangate.
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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, as recommended in recent Council of Europe assessments.
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 hangs in the balance, and inaction may further erode trust. We await your response and commitment to action.
