While several MEPs are accused of having been corrupted by Qatar, other revelations now implicate Morocco.
Did Morocco try to bribe European parliamentarians? While Qatar is in turmoil after the discovery of more than 1,5 million euros in cash during searches linked to an investigation involving in particular the Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, the name of the Cherifian kingdom comes out of several auditions.
Eva Kaili's companion, who is also her parliamentary assistant, Francesco Giorgi, admitted to the police and judge Michel Claise that he belonged to an influential organization on behalf of Qatar, but also Morocco. The objective of this organization: to intervene in European affairs.
During his hearing, Giorgi also revealed the names of two elected officials who were also allegedly targeted and received money from the organization: Italian Andrea Cozzolino and Belgian Marc Tarabella.
The DGED at the heart of the investigation
The parliamentary assistant indicated that Morocco had participated in attempted corruption operations through its foreign intelligence and counterintelligence service, the Directorate General for Studies and Documentation (DGED). The investigators will be able to rely on documents showing that Andrea Cozzolino and Francesco Giorgi were in contact with two agents from the DGED, but also with the Moroccan ambassador to Poland, Abderrahim Atmoun.
Nothing surprising. Two days ago, Politico revealed that a former Italian socialist MEP, Antonio Panzeri, was also accused of having received funds from Qatar and Morocco. Italy made an extradition request, while the ex-elected is in Belgium. According to the first elements of the investigation, Panzeri relied on his wife and daughter, who " participated in the transport of the gifts" offered by Abderrahim Atmoun, Ambassador of Morocco to Poland.
À Regarding these gifts from the Moroccan ambassador to the elected official, a document indicates that the offenses were committed between January 1, 2021 and December 8, 2022
The federal prosecutor's office has not yet confirmed that an investigation targeting Morocco has been opened in this burning file. Investigating judge Michel Claise asks Italy to hand over the wife and daughter of Antonio Panzeri.