A multinational investigation into alleged bribery by Huawei has pulled in current and former European lawmakers, with authorities now examining whether Chinese money influenced policy decisions inside the European Parliament. The probe has led to five charges and searches of more than 20 locations in Belgium and Portugal.
The suspected bribery campaign reportedly began in 2021 and involved both direct payments and other benefits, such as regular invitations to football matches, fine dining and paid trips. Prosecutors say these gifts were used to encourage political support for positions that aligned with Huawei’s interests.
What is going on in Europe?
The E.U. is now embroiled in a spiraling corruption & bribery scandal involving CCP spy gear maker Huawei.
The corruption scandal involves “preliminary charges of active corruption, forgery of documents, money laundering” at the European Parliament. pic.twitter.com/guS56y8TZK
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) March 14, 2025
A particular point of interest for investigators is a letter circulated in 2021 that urged the EU to avoid restrictions on Chinese technology firms. Though the letter avoided using Huawei’s name, prosecutors believe it was part of a strategy by those acting on behalf of the company.
Corruption in the Parliament – Same old?
"Huawei had a great interest, big money" @petras_petras
"There's rules to enforce ethics guidelines, but they choose not to" @swheaton
"This is unacceptable" R. Lewis @Brussels_School
Watch #BrusselsMyLove all weekend on @euronews pic.twitter.com/hKdMoM4F84
— euronews (@euronews) March 23, 2025
The letter was signed by eight members of Parliament. Prosecutors allege that the letter’s author was promised more than $16,000, while each of the signatories may have received smaller bribes. Italian MEP Fulvio Martusciello, one of the lawmakers who signed, is now linked to two individuals who have been arrested — his former aide and a current assistant.
Belgian police conducted raids on Huawei's offices in Brussels and the homes of the company's lobbyists as part of an investigation into alleged corruption within the European Parliament. Authorities suspect that the Chinese tech giant offered bribes and luxury privileges to… pic.twitter.com/aeYxCARFrN
— TVP World (@TVPWorld_com) March 15, 2025
The European Union’s anti-fraud watchdog OLAF received a tip about the letter at the time but declined to launch an inquiry. The agency stated that the suspicion did not meet its threshold for investigation.
2025.3.16 Belgium is investigating Huawei, a CCP military-linked company associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), over allegations of bribing European Parliament members and engaging in illegal lobbying to undermine espionage accusations and sway EU policies. Raids… pic.twitter.com/GfLxwBIQ9S
— 台灣寶島農場🇹🇼 (@N0000024) March 17, 2025
As of now, four of the five charged individuals remain in custody. The fifth, who faces money laundering accusations, has been released under conditions while the investigation continues.
Huawei not only uses predatory pricing practices to undercut the more secure western products but it appears they use bribery too…https://t.co/zDNuCJ3W7h
— Rob Joyce (@RGB_Lights) March 19, 2025
This latest case follows an earlier corruption scandal where MEPs were accused of taking bribes from governments in North Africa and the Middle East in return for shaping foreign policy.
