Huawei-Gate: Anticorruption Intergroup Letter to Von der Leyen and Metsola
The recent bribery allegations involving Huawei once again highlight how vulnerable EU institutions are to undue influence. The Belgian public prosecutor has been investigating since 2021 and has found indications that Huawei attempted to influence decisions in the European Parliament — through luxury trips and expensive gifts to Members of Parliament.
To protect the integrity of EU institutions, reduce the risk of corruption, and limit opportunities for espionage, I, together with dozens of fellow Members of Parliament, have addressed the Presidents of the European Parliament and the European Commission with urgent demands.
As Members of the European Parliament and the Anti-Corruption Intergroup, we are calling for the implementation of the following measures:
No Huawei Devices in Secured Networks
The Parliament has joined the European Commission in banning TikTok, due to concerns that confidential information could be passed to the Chinese government. The methods allegedly used by Huawei suggest that its devices pose a similar threat. We therefore demand that all Huawei devices be removed from the networks of the European Parliament and the European Commission.
Independent Lobby Oversight
The enforcement of lobbying rules in both the Parliament and the Commission remains too weak. The new EU ethics body must begin its work without further delay. Although the inter-institutional agreement establishing this body was signed ten months ago, the Parliament has so far blocked its first meeting and the appointment of independent experts. In light of current developments, the ethics body must urgently convene and finally begin its work.
Close Loopholes in the Transparency Register
The current system has serious shortcomings: important actors like embassies are not covered, financial transparency is lacking, and there are too few consequences for unregistered lobbyists who break the rules. We call on the Commission and the Parliament to address these issues in the upcoming reform of the Transparency Register.
You can find the full list of demands in the letters sent to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Parliament President Roberta Metsola:
🔗 Letter to Roberta Metsola (PDF)
🔗 Letter to Ursula von der Leyen (PDF)
To protect the integrity of EU institutions, reduce the risk of corruption, and limit opportunities for espionage, I, together with dozens of fellow Members of Parliament, have addressed the Presidents of the European Parliament and the European Commission with urgent demands.