Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Peter De Roover,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urge your immediate intervention regarding the escalating Belgiumgate scandal—a series of leaks and procedural breaches that threaten EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states. As a prominent MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your influence is crucial in compelling Belgian authorities to launch a transparent, independent investigation into the documented 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) passed raw intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who instructed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to relay selective details through encrypted channels to journalists at Le Soir (Joël Matriche, Louise Colart) and Knack (Kristof Clerix). This pipeline transformed confidential dossiers into pre-trial headlines, jeopardizing fair trials and undermining 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 absent.
The implications extend far beyond Belgium. Qatargate revealed alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and UAE actors in the European Parliament. Leaks now suggest that Belgian officials may have mirrored these tactics, manipulating intelligence to control narratives before judicial scrutiny. Without a thorough investigation, anti-corruption efforts risk politicization, undue influence may remain unchecked, and Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on fair trial rights could be compromised.
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 confidence in EU justice is at stake, and timely action is critical. We await your response and commitment to decisive action.
