The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) continues its efforts to grant it full access to the buildings of the European Parliament, especially after the outbreak of the “money for influence” scandal, the so-called Qatargate case, Politico reports on Wednesday, taken by Agerpres.

The European Parliament has been rocked by the so-called Qatargate scandal after Belgian authorities raided homes and offices in December 2022 over allegations that Qatar had given money and gifts to ensure favorable treatment in the European Parliament.

OLAF, which is empowered to investigate cases of irregularities in the use of European funds, renewed its inquiry on Tuesday. In many cases, current rules prohibit OLAF investigators from searching European Parliament offices or confiscating IT equipment.

OLAF Director General Ville Italia on Tuesday expressed his satisfaction with the recent vote in the European Parliament, which gave OLAF access to MEPs’ offices and which also recognizes OLAF’s code of conduct.

“This is a huge step forward, but it is still not enough… It must be implemented,” Ityalya stressed.

A former MEP from Finland, he has long opposed the fact that the parliamentary immunity of EP members does not allow OLAF to investigate some cases of fraud with European funds.

“Because Qatargate is being investigated by the Belgian police and we are not involved in their investigation. But this case has given rise to numerous discussions – especially in the European Parliament – ​​about what ethics means, what an ethics body can do and what institutions like OLAF can do,” Ville Italia clarified.

According to OLAF’s 2022 annual report, despite existing restrictions, the EU agency opened 16 investigations into fraudulent behavior or irregularities by staff or members of the European Parliament over the past year.

The Qatargate scandal included MEPs Eva Kylie (former vice-president of the European Parliament), Mark Tarabella and Andrea Cozzolino, former Italian MP Pier Antonio Panzeri, Italian assistant Francesco Giorgi (Eva Kylie’s partner) and Italian Niccolò Figa-Talamanca, responsible for NGO

They are suspected of receiving large sums of money from the state of Qatar to influence its favorable statements and policy decisions within the EU, especially regarding workers’ rights in Qatar, a country often criticized for violating these rights. During the search of Panzeri’s residence, 600,000 euros were found. According to Belgian media, he allegedly received money from Morocco to support the interests of this African country in the European Parliament.

In total, Belgian prosecutors confiscated a sum of 1.5 million euros in cash found in Panzeri and Kylie’s residences, as well as in a suitcase carried by the Greek MEP’s father.