Huawei probe blunder sparks EU parliament rule overhaul

Belgian Prosecutors Pull Back Request Targeting MEP Giusi Princi

When European lawmaker Giusi Princi learned Belgian authorities were seeking a breach investigation tied to Chinese tech giant Huawei, she was “dumbfounded.”

Fact‑Check: Princi Had Nothing to Do With Huawei

• Princi, 52, was requested to have her parliamentary immunity lifted in May, along with four fellow MEPs.
• Prosecutors argued she attended a Brussels dinner with Huawei representatives in June last year. But on that day she had not yet been formally appointed to the 27‑nation bloc’s assembly following the European elections.
• Instead, Princi was in southern Calabria, attending her daughter’s “Alice‑in‑Wonderland” themed end‑of‑year school play.

Princi’s Response: A “Stubborn” Plea for Fairness

“I will not accept the targeting and tarnishing of MEPs without a solid basis,” Metsola, the EU Parliament president, told a press conference in late June.

Princi’s lawyer compiled an “almost 100‑page long” dossier, including geo‑tagged photos of her daughter in a princess dress, and sent it to prosecutors. However, her bid to be exonerated before the case became public failed.

The EU Parliament’s Rule Revision

• Prosecutors withdrew the request targeting Princi a day after she was publicly named.
• Going forward, the Parliament will require requests to lift a lawmaker’s immunity to include essential elements such as a clear description of the facts and the alleged crime.
• If the requests do not meet the minimum elements, the requesting authority will be asked to complement it before any announcement is made.

Princi said her involvement caused “a fair amount of stress” during “days of hell” and dirty looks from colleagues.

Debate on the Role of Belgian Authorities in EU Corruption Cases

Daniel Freund, a transparency campaigner turned Green lawmaker, believes the European Public Prosecutor’s Office should be tasked with EU corruption investigations. The Belgian judiciary’s role remains under questioning, especially after recent scandals involving Qatar and Morocco.

The Huawei Scandal

• Police raids in March in Belgium and Portugal exposed alleged bribes, including meals and football match invitations to lawmakers who could “defend Huawei’s interests.”
• Eight people have been charged on counts such as corruption, money laundering, and participating in a criminal organization.
• All four EU lawmakers named besides Princi have denied any wrongdoing.