EditHuawei bribery scandal focuses on MEP assistants’ alleged wrongdoing
The investigation suggests a level of sophistication typical of organised crime
The unfolding Huawei scandal suggests systemic vulnerabilities in the European Parliament’s oversight mechanisms that may have allowed parliamentary assistants to engage in activities resembling organised crime.
In March 2025, a bribery scandal implicating Chinese tech giant Huawei rocked the European Parliament, triggering a Belgian probe into illicit lobbying for 5G interests. Codenamed “Generation,” the investigation prompted the European Commission to blacklist Huawei-linked lobby groups. This case exposes persistent ethical gaps in EU institutions and fuels debates over foreign influence amid global 5G rivalries.
On 13 March, Belgian police raided Huawei’s Brussels office and 21 other sites, including in Portugal, following a two-year investigation sparked by intelligence. A Portuguese company is suspected of channelling funds to MEP assistants, suggesting a sophisticated network for distributing bribes. Allegations emerged that Huawei lobbyists bribed MEPs and assistants to influence 5G policy.
As of 24 April, the European Commission has decided to cease all meetings with groups and organiяations linked to Huawei in light of the ongoing investigation.
“The Commission shall not meet with any lobby groups and/or trade associations that represent Huawei’s interests and/or speak on its behalf,” the Commission’s spokesperson service told POLITICO in a statement.
Belgian prosecutors charged eight individuals with corruption, money laundering, criminal organisation, and forgery. Four Huawei employees, including Yong J., a vice president for Europe, and Valerio Ottati, a former MEP assistant turned lobbyist, were arrested and face charges. Ottati allegedly facilitated payments, including €6,700 to MEP Fulvio Martusciello and €14,800 to an assistant.
Huawei reportedly fired two employees and suspended another.
Huawei, a telecom leader, pioneered 5G technology, alarming the U.S., which accused it of enabling Chinese espionage – claims Huawei denies. U.S. pressure led 12 EU countries to restrict Huawei’s 5G equipment, though 14 still use it.
The probe targets parliamentary assistants, with key arrests including Luciana Simeone, an assistant to Martusciello, detained in Italy on March 20, 2025, under a European arrest warrant. Another unnamed Martusciello assistant was also arrested in Italy. Offices linked to the assistants of MEPs Nikola Minchev and Marco Falcone were sealed, though no arrests were confirmed for these aides. Both Minchev and Falcone are newly elected MEPs, while their assistants have a longer track record in the European Parliament.
While initial court hearings have taken place, specific trial dates have not been publicly announced. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and further developments, including the scheduling of trials, are expected as the investigation progresses.
A 2021 letter signed by eight MEPs, opposing 5G restrictions, appears to be the central evidence, allegedly securing support for Huawei through bribes. As of April 2025, three suspects are under electronic surveillance, two were released with conditions, and three remain detained. The Belgian prosecutors have reported that the alleged corruption had happened “very discreetly” since 2021 under the disguise of commercial lobbying and payments for taking political positions, including excessive gifts such as smartphones, football tickets, and China trips.
Cash payments are clear bribery, but gifts like travel fall into a grey area under lax EU rules, where assistants often bypass meeting disclosures. Post-Qatargate reforms have stalled, with the lack of a strong ethics body seen as a major factor in allowing such scandals to occur.
Investigators estimate Huawei funnelled tens of thousands of euros to up to 15 MEPs and assistants, though the exact total remains under investigation.
The Huawei case recalls another scandal, Qatargate, where MEP Eva Kaili faced accusations of spending between €120,000 and €150,000 of public money. In December 2022, she was arrested after bags of cash were found in her apartment. Kaili consistently denied any wrongdoing and was released from pre-trial detention under electronic surveillance in April 2023. In February 2024, she announced she would not seek re-election, effectively ending her term as an MEP.
A connection has emerged through Adam Mouchtar. An assistant to the newly elected MEP Nikola Minchev, Mouchtar, whose office was searched, was a co-founder of the EU40 group, which was previously led by Kaili.
CERRE, a think tank with Huawei as a member, is reviewing the situation but declined to comment, while SolarPower Europe did not respond to POLITICO’s inquiry about its Huawei ties. Additionally, the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO) is assessing Huawei’s membership status, with results due on 29 April.
Advocates for reform, including MEP Victor Negrescu, are pushing for greater transparency to regain lost trust.
The Huawei scandal reflects 5G geopolitics and the EU’s struggle to safeguard democracy. While Huawei exploited existing gaps, the Parliament’s slow reform pace invites scrutiny. The Diplomat warns that US-EU tensions could soften Europe’s stance on China, complicating de-risking efforts.
As investigators advance, the European Parliament is under pressure to close ethical loopholes to rebuild credibility. As an example, assistants are only required to declare meetings with lobbyists when acting on behalf of their MEP, creating a loophole that allows undisclosed interactions. This lack of mandatory reporting makes it difficult to track their engagements with external entities like Huawei.
Last but not least, the allegations, which include the use of bank transfers via screen companies, forged documents, and money laundering, suggest a level of sophistication typical of organised crime – a huge embarrassment for the European Parliament.
(Sources: POLITICO, Follow the Money, EUobserver, South China Morning Post, Reuters, BBC, Euronews, Bloomberg, France 24, AP, edited by P.P.P.)
Updated: April 28, 2025 - 19:04
