Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 22, 2025

Qatargate: Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino arrested, fights extradition to Belgium

Qatargate: Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino arrested, fights extradition to Belgium

The lawmaker was detained in Naples at the request of the Belgian authorities.
Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino was arrested on Friday night in the probe connected to alleged corruption in the European Parliament, his lawyer confirmed to POLITICO. He’s back home now.

“Our client was arrested yesterday based on a European arrest warrant issued by investigative judge [Michel] Claise while he was at the hospital where he was taken care of for heart problems,” his lawyer Dimitri De Béco said in a statement shared with POLITICO, confirming earlier reports by ANSA and Reuters.

Cozzolino is now back home, De Béco added, but is, according to ANSA, under house arrest. He has opposed his extradition to Belgium, due to the Belgian justice “way of proceeding,” the statement says. Cozzolino’s lawyers team claimed to have written multiple times to the judge to be heard since December 21, but never got a response.

The extradition hearing of Cozzolino will take place on Tuesday morning, ANSA reports.

The arrest happened at the behest of the Belgian authorities, who began an operation early Friday morning with the detention of Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella. Both Cozzolino and Tarabella saw their immunity waived in a plenary session last Thursday, paving the way for Belgian investigators to detain them.

The Belgian police also conducted new raids on Friday, connected to both Cozzolino and Tarabella.

Earlier Friday, Belgian police searched Cozzolino’s house in Brussels, and sealed, but not searched, his office in the European Parliament, the Belgian prosecutor’s spokesperson confirmed. Also, a safe deposit box of Tarabella’s at a bank in Liège was searched, as well as multiple offices in the Walloon town of Anthisnes, where Tarabella is still mayor, the prosecutor said in a press release.

According to parliamentary reports, potential violations of Belgian law by Tarabella and Cozzolino could include corruption, participation in a criminal organization and money laundering. However, in its communication on Friday, the prosecutor’s services mentioned only corruption and money laundering.

Late last week, the Belgian investigative judge leading the case released from jail one of the four original detainees in the case, Niccolò Figà-Talamanca — secretary-general of No Peace Without Justice, one of the nongovernmental organizations linked to the Qatargate corruption scandal.

Three other suspects — former European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili, her partner Francesco Giorgi and former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri — are still in jail. In January, Panzeri struck a deal to cooperate with the investigators.

Both Tarabella and Cozzolino deny any wrongdoing.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
×