Chinese tech giant Huawei is at the centre of a fresh corruption probe in Brussels, with Belgian police raiding the homes of its lobbyists as part of a sweeping investigation, Belgian media outlets Le Soir and Knack reported on Thursday.
Authorities suspect Huawei lobbyists of bribing members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to gain political support, with around 15 former and current MEPs under investigation, according to sources close to the probe.
Belgium’s federal police raided Huawei’s EU office and multiple residences, seizing documents and objects in connection with suspected bribery, forgery, money laundering and criminal organisation. Twenty-one addresses were searched across Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia, and Portugal. No searches took place at the European Parliament.
The raids follow a two-year covert investigation launched after a tip-off from Belgium’s state security service. Belgian prosecutors confirmed that “several people were questioned” regarding alleged involvement in bribery and document forgery. The security service declined to comment.
Huawei did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Authorities believe the tech company sought to win favour with MEPs by offering expensive gifts, luxury trips to China, and football tickets, with some payments allegedly channelled through a Portuguese company, sources said. Prosecutors have not yet requested the European Parliament to waive immunity for current lawmakers.
The investigation — code-named “Operation Generation” — draws parallels with the “Qatargate” scandal, where former MEPs allegedly accepted bribes from Qatar and Morocco in exchange for influence.
Huawei has faced mounting scrutiny in Europe over concerns its equipment could facilitate espionage by Beijing, allegations the company has consistently denied. Several EU nations have already moved to restrict Huawei’s involvement in their 5G networks.
The probe’s geopolitical implications are significant, unfolding as EU-China relations face renewed pressure amid U.S. trade tensions and global security concerns.
Among those under scrutiny is Valerio Ottati, Huawei’s EU Public Affairs Director. Ottati joined the company in 2019 after a decade working for Italian MEPs involved in China policy. He was not immediately available for comment.
The investigation remains in its early stages, and it is unclear whether charges will be brought against Ottati or other suspects. /BV
