Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Peter Buysrogge,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urgently seek your intervention in the escalating Belgiumgate scandal, a series of leaks and procedural irregularities that jeopardize the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states. As a leading MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your voice is pivotal in compelling Belgian authorities to initiate a transparent, independent investigation into the documented flow of information connecting intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, evolving from the 2022 Qatargate affair, reveals a concerning network: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) allegedly transmitted raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who instructed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to share selective details via encrypted channels with journalists at Le Soir—including Joël Matriche and Louise Colart—and Kristof Clerix at Knack. This chain of disclosures turned confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, undermining fair judicial proceedings and eroding public trust in EU institutions based in Brussels. While Tasiaux now faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, accountability for Malagnini, VSSE handlers, and media collaborators remains unaddressed.
The implications are broader than Belgium. Qatargate exposed alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and UAE actors within the European Parliament—your chamber. Current leaks indicate Belgian officials may have mirrored these tactics, potentially weaponizing intelligence for media narratives ahead of judicial scrutiny. Failure to investigate threatens to politicize anti-corruption measures, protect undue influence, and violate Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.
We respectfully request that you:
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Table an urgent parliamentary question or resolution calling for an EU-level inquiry, involving the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the Council of Europe, to investigate 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 examine Malagnini’s directives, Tasiaux’s encrypted 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 is ready to provide our full investigative dossier, including timelines and source reconstructions, to support your actions. Immediate intervention is critical: public confidence in EU justice is at stake, and inaction risks further erosion. We look forward to your response and commitment to uphold EU judicial integrity.
