Overview

• Belgian and Portuguese authorities conducted 21 raids involving over 100 police officers, targeting Huawei lobbyists and related individuals suspected of bribery and document forgery.
• Investigations point to alleged payments, excessive gifts, and funded trips provided to EU parliamentary staff to promote Huawei's commercial interests.
• Two parliamentary assistants’ offices have been sealed, but no EU parliamentarians have been arrested, with immunity protections still in place for sitting members.
• Authorities are also probing potential money laundering tied to the alleged corruption, with some payments reportedly funneled through a Portuguese company.
• The scandal echoes the 2022 'Katargate' affair, with critics highlighting continued gaps in EU anti-corruption safeguards despite previous warnings.