EU corruption allegations are "really very worrying," according to the foreign policy head

 

Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, described the arrests related to alleged corruption in the European Parliament as "very, very worrisome."

The allegations against four persons, according to Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, are "extremely devastating."

Vice President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, who is thought to be one of those indicted, was detained.

 

Authorities believe a Gulf nation reportedly Qatar—tried to sway parliament through monetary or in-kind contributions.

Qatar has refuted any wrongdoing.

 

In 16 searches conducted in Brussels on Friday, Belgian police confiscated cash totaling roughly €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000). In order to investigate the contents, computers and mobile phones were also taken.

According to prosecutors, two persons have been freed while four have been charged.

 

Although no suspects have been officially identified, Ms. Kaili is believed to be one of those who have been charged.

 

They are accused of participating in a criminal organisation, money laundering, and corruption, according to a statement from the Belgian federal prosecutor's office.

 

Ms. Kaili, an eight-year MEP, was relieved of her responsibilities as one of the 14 vice presidents by Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament.

 

She has also been kicked out of the Greek Pasok center-left party and suspended from the Socialists and Democrats group in the parliament.

 

All of Ms. Kaili's assets are allegedly blocked by Greek prosecutors.

The bribery inquiry, according to watchdogs and opposition MEPs, may be one of the largest corruption scandals in the history of the European Parliament.

 

As he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, Mr. Borrell told reporters, "The news is certainly very, very troubling."

 

As a former president of the European Parliament, I can say with certainty that the events and circumstances we are currently confronting worry me.

 According to Mr. Borrell, the probe did not focus on any members of the EU diplomatic corps.

 

Before the meeting on Monday, Mr. Coveney said that "we need to get to the bottom of it" and called the accusations "extremely harmful."

 

Terry Reintke, who serves as co-chair of the Green group in parliament, has demanded that Ms. Kaili quit immediately.

The German MEP stated, "We shouldn't even have to remove her from her vice president post." She needs to handle this actively.

 

According to prosecutors, a Gulf state has been meddling in the political and economic choices of the parliament for a number of months, particularly by targeting aides.

 

Although the state has been identified by local media as Qatar, the Qatari government has stated that any allegations of wrongdoing are "gravely erroneous."

 

The Middle East is one of Ms. Kaili's vice-presidential responsibilities. She has previously stood up for Qatar.

 

Ms. Metsola took a flight on Saturday night from her native Malta to Brussels to observe the search of an MEP's home, as required by Belgian law.

The European Parliament "stands firmly against corruption," according to her spokeswoman, and is "completely collaborating" with the authorities.

 

The only institution in the EU to be chosen directly is the European Parliament. The 705 members of parliament chosen by citizens of the 27 EU member states gather to review new laws and pass them into European law.