Belgian warrant issued for ex-EU commissioner Avramopoulos

Belgian judicial authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, a significant escalation in the long-running Qatargate corruption investigation. The warrant, confirmed on June 23, targets the Greek politician, who currently serves as a member of parliament for the governing New Democracy party.

The warrant is linked to Avramopoulos's paid role on the honorary board of the Brussels-based NGO Fight Impunity. The organization was founded by former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, who has confessed to masterminding "cash for influence" deals with Morocco, Qatar, and Mauritania as part of a plea bargain. Belgian authorities have described Fight Impunity as a criminal network.

Avramopoulos has denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, he said there was no involvement on his part, direct or indirect, in anything improper. He defended his association with the NGO, stating his participation was entirely lawful, transparent, audited, and approved under European Commission ethics procedures. He said he received approximately 5,000 euros per month for the role between February 2021 and February 2022, payments he declared and which...