The European Parliament has banned lobbyists representing Huawei from its premises following the arrest of several individuals in a corruption investigation connected to the Chinese company. This incident adds to the growing list of scandals involving the European Union’s legislature.
Belgian prosecutors are investigating Huawei for allegedly bribing EU lawmakers.
In response, the European Parliament announced that the suspension of Huawei lobbyists’ access is a precautionary measure in accordance with its security protocols, and the decision is effective immediately.
The arrests on Thursday followed an investigation by Le Soir newspaper and other media, which uncovered suspicions that lobbyists working for Huawei had bribed current and former European Parliament members to promote the company’s business interests in Europe.
Around 100 federal police officers conducted 21 raids in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, as well as Portugal. The investigating magistrate overseeing the case also ordered the sealing of offices within the European Parliament assigned to two parliamentary assistants who are allegedly involved in the corruption scheme.
Huawei announced on Thursday that it is taking the allegations seriously and will “urgently communicate” with investigators regarding the matter.
The company, known for its cellphones and as the largest producer of networking equipment for phone and internet carriers, has found itself at the center of tensions between the United States and China over issues related to technology and trade. Several European countries have followed the U.S. lead in banning Huawei’s equipment from next-generation mobile networks, citing concerns that it could pose a security risk and potentially aid in Chinese espionage—a claim Huawei has consistently denied.
The prosecutor’s office has stated that it believes the corruption activities date back to 2021.
This marks the second corruption scandal targeting the European Parliament in under three years. In December 2022, the institution was rocked by a scandal in which Qatari officials were accused of bribing EU lawmakers to downplay labor rights concerns ahead of the World Cup. This incident tarnished the reputation of the European Parliament, the only EU institution made up of officials directly elected from the 27 member countries.