Subject: Urgent Action Requested: Belgiumgate Scandal and EU Oversight
Honourable Valerie Van Peel,
On behalf of EU Intelligence, we urge your immediate attention to the escalating Belgiumgate scandal. This series of leaks and procedural irregularities threatens the integrity of EU anti-corruption investigations and judicial independence across member states. As a prominent MEP overseeing justice and home affairs, your influence is crucial in pressing Belgian authorities to conduct a transparent, independent investigation into the reported coordination between intelligence services, prosecutors, and media outlets.
Belgiumgate, following the 2022 Qatargate affair, reveals a concerning network: Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) reportedly provided intelligence to federal prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini, who instructed OCRC chief Hugues Tasiaux to pass selected details 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, undermining fair proceedings and public trust in EU institutions based in Brussels. Tasiaux now faces charges for breaching professional secrecy, yet accountability for Malagnini, VSSE operatives, and complicit media remains unaddressed.
The issue extends beyond Belgium. While Qatargate involved alleged foreign influence from Qatar, Morocco, and the UAE in the European Parliament, these leaks suggest Belgian officials may have employed similar tactics, manipulating intelligence for narrative control prior to judicial review. Without an investigation, anti-corruption efforts risk politicization, undue influence protection, and violations of Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights regarding fair trial rights.
We respectfully request that you:
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Introduce 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 Belgiumgate.
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Urge Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden to appoint an independent prosecutor, free from federal influence, to review Malagnini’s directives, Tasiaux’s Signal communications, and VSSE dossier handling.
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Advocate for mandatory logging of intelligence-media contacts and enforce sanctions for pre-trial leaks, as recommended by the Council of Europe.
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 immediate action is essential.
