Brussels Corruption Investigation Involving Huawei: A Controversial Letter

Belgian prosecutors are currently investigating whether Huawei made illicit payments concerning a letter that advocated for its interests in the expansion of 5G technology within the European Union. This inquiry is part of broader corruption investigations involving lobbyists and members of the European Parliament.

According to reports from the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the focus of the investigation centers on a significant letter sent in February 2021 to key European Commission officials, including Margrethe Vestager, Valdis Dombrovskis, and Thierry Breton. The letter did not explicitly mention Huawei but clearly aimed to address geopolitical tensions that could hinder the development of 5G in Europe.

Fulvio Martusciello, an Italian Member of the European Parliament and one of the letter's signatories, publicly shared the document on Twitter on February 15, 2021, although he later deleted the post. Nonetheless, the tweet is still archived. The communication warned against the tendency of some member states to ban foreign 5G equipment, describing this as a form of 'protectionism' fueled by 'unfounded fears regarding national security risks.'

As part of the investigation, the Belgian police have reportedly sealed two offices linked to parliamentary aides, resulting in the temporary detention of several individuals. Prosecutors have conducted searches at 21 locations across Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia, and Portugal.

According to La Repubblica, a sum of EUR15,000 was allegedly offered to the author of the letter, while co-signers were reportedly promised EUR1,500 each. Investigators suspect that these payments were sanctioned by Huawei executives and may correlate with the drafting of legislative amendments favorable to Huawei.

Martusciello has denied ever receiving money or benefits from Huawei in response to the allegations. The legal representatives of his former parliamentary advisor and an assistant have also refuted any involvement in the accusations. Some current and former members of the European Parliament who signed the letter are attempting to distance themselves from the document.

While various EU bodies have excluded Huawei lobbyists from their operations, organizations such as LobbyControl have raised concerns that think tanks like Bruegel and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) continue to maintain connections with the company.