China’s technology giant Huawei has been accused of bribing European Parliament staff to promote its interests, providing cash, football match tickets, and smartphones through an intermediary to maintain Huawei’s interests. At the time, Huawei was lobbying not to be excluded from the European Union’s 5G infrastructure expansion program.
The related investigation was initiated earlier this month, with Belgian authorities arresting four individuals last week, charging them with corruption and involvement in a criminal organization. Among the arrested suspects is an intermediary for Huawei, who had previously served as an assistant in the European Parliament. He is suspected of orchestrating bribes to Parliament staff to ensure support for a letter signed by several European Parliament members that advocated for Huawei’s interests.
This letter, signed by eight EU members, was submitted to the European Commission in January 2021, defending Huawei and cautioning that the installation of 5G technology had been politicized within the EU. It criticized the EU’s prohibition of foreign 5G equipment installation based on “unsubstantiated fears of national security risks.”
Due to national security concerns, some EU countries have banned or restricted Huawei from entering their telecommunications networks, with the European Commission describing the risks posed by Huawei as “higher” compared to other telecom suppliers.
In 2021, a report was lodged with the NGO Transparency International, alleging that Huawei’s Brussels office collaborated with an Italian MEP, who received a €15,000 reward for signing the joint letter, while each co-signatory received €1,500.
According to Politico’s European edition, the Belgian prosecutor’s office detailed the core content of the case in the arrest warrant for the assistant of the Italian MEP, suggesting that the transaction or proposed transaction had the support of Huawei’s Chinese executives, particularly the director of the Brussels office, Abraham L.
The MEP stated that his assistant “was alleged to have received a €1000 bank transfer from a former colleague, supposedly intended to pay other unspecified European Parliament members.” He also mentioned that Huawei employees had “invited all European Parliament members to various events worldwide. Neither I nor anyone in my delegation has ever accepted his invitation or anything else.”
Two sources familiar with the investigation mentioned that the alleged bribery also included providing Huawei smartphones and tickets to watch football matches.
On March 18, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office announced charges against five individuals in connection with the European Parliament bribery case involving Huawei. Four were accused of corruption and participation in a criminal organization, while the fifth was charged with money laundering but released after questioning.
On March 13, two European Parliament offices were sealed off, and authorities carried out searches at Huawei’s headquarters in Brussels, as well as 21 locations in Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia in Belgium, and Portugal.
According to Politico’s European edition report on March 13, a spokesperson for the Belgian prosecutor’s office stated that they were investigating preliminary allegations of severe corruption, document forgery, and money laundering within the European Parliament. The office further emphasized that “the bribery benefited China’s Huawei.”
（This article referenced reports from the Financial Times）