Overview

• Belgian prosecutors have arrested multiple individuals and conducted 21 searches across Belgium and Portugal in connection to alleged bribery by Huawei targeting European Parliament members.
• The investigation alleges that Huawei bribed lawmakers through gifts, payments disguised as business expenses, and other benefits to influence EU policies in favor of the company.
• The scandal has reignited calls for stronger anti-corruption measures in the European Parliament, including the stalled creation of a common ethics body to oversee lawmakers' conduct.
• Critics, including transparency advocates and lawmakers, warn that the Parliament's failure to enact reforms after the 2022 Qatargate scandal has left it vulnerable to further corruption.
• Huawei has denied wrongdoing, stating it has a zero-tolerance policy for corruption and pledging to cooperate with the investigation.