Full Breakdown
Greek Parliament Strips Immunity from Former EU Commissioner Amid Qatargate Probe
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 17, the Hellenic Parliament voted to remove parliamentary immunity from Dimitris Avramopoulos, a 73-year-old lawmaker of the New Democracy party and former European Commissioner for Migration. The vote ends the legal shield that had prevented his arrest and prosecution, clearing the way for Belgian authorities to pursue the ongoing “Qatargate” corruption investigation against him.
Background & Context
The Qatargate scandal surfaced in 2022, alleging that the State of Qatar paid cash or routed funds through non-profit organisations to influence European Union policy-making. The investigation has implicated several EU officials on accusations of bribery, public corruption and money laundering. Avramopoulos served as European Commissioner for Migration from 2014 to 2019 and, according to a Greek government document, acted as an honorary board member of the NGO Fight Impunity from 2020 to 2021—an organisation linked to the case.
Official Statements & Responses
- Dimitris Avramopoulos has denied any wrongdoing or connection to the Qatargate case, describing the allegations as “arbitrary, unacceptable, suspicious.” He also asserted that his involvement with Fight Impunity was “lawful, audited, approved.”
- The Qatari government has repeatedly denied any misconduct related to the allegations.
- A Belgian investigating judge issued a European arrest warrant in June, citing accusations of participation in a criminal group, public corruption and money laundering.
- The Belgian prosecutor’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Data & Statistics
- Belgian authorities reported seizing approximately €1.5 million (about $1.72 million) in cash during raids connected to the broader Qatargate investigation, including cash found in a suitcase at a Brussels hotel.
- Avramopoulos held the European Commission portfolio for migration for five years (2014-2019) and later served on the board of Fight Impunity for roughly one year (2020-2021).
What’s Next
Greek media indicated that Avramopoulos intends to appear voluntarily before Belgian authorities. The removal of his immunity now permits Belgian prosecutors to act on the European arrest warrant, though no further procedural details have been disclosed.