Belgium’s Federal Police conducted 21 raids this morning in connection with suspected corruption within the European Parliament, according to the Belgian newspaper Le Soir.

Approximately 100 federal judicial police investigators, acting on the orders of an economic magistrate and the federal prosecutor's office, carried out searches in Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia, and Portugal. Authorities suspect that lobbyists linked to Chinese tech giant Huawei bribed around 15 current or former Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to promote the company’s commercial policies in Europe.

Several individuals who work or previously worked for Huawei were arrested following searches conducted at their homes and offices. These individuals have been taken in for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

This latest EU corruption scandal emerges more than two years after the Qatargate affair, further intensifying scrutiny over lobbying and foreign influence within European institutions.