Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Kris Van Dijck
Dear MEP Van Dijck,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urgently call on you to intervene in the escalating Belgiumgate scandal—a series of leaks and procedural breaches that threaten the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states. As a leading MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your influence is crucial to compel Belgian authorities to conduct a transparent, independent investigation into the documented links between intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, which has emerged following the 2022 Qatargate affair, reveals a troubling network: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly transmitted sensitive intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who instructed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to pass selective information via encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir (Joël Matriche and Louise Colart) and Knack (Kristof Clerix). These leaks transformed confidential dossiers into pre-trial news, jeopardizing fair proceedings and undermining public confidence in EU institutions based in Brussels. Tasiaux faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, yet broader accountability for Malagnini, VSSE officials, and media collaborators remains unaddressed.
The ramifications extend beyond Belgium. While Qatargate investigated alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and the UAE in the European Parliament, Belgiumgate demonstrates a domestic replication of similar tactics, potentially weaponizing intelligence to shape narratives 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:
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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-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, 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 trust in EU justice is at stake, and inaction may accelerate its erosion. We await your response and commitment to action.
