The European Commission has categorically rejected claims of an ‘in-depth internal investigation’ into former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos in connection with the Qatargate scandal. In a clarification issued in 2022, the Commission confirmed it conducted only internal compliance checks—not a formal internal inquiry—regarding Avramopoulos’s post-Commission activities.
Focus on Compliance, Not Criminal Conduct
These checks assessed solely whether Avramopoulos adhered to the conditions imposed on his post-Commission professional engagement—specifically, his role on the board of the NGO Fight Impunity. They did not examine the NGO’s operations or any potential criminal liability linked to Qatargate.
Balázs Óvári, spokesperson for the Commission, emphasized the distinction: ‘These were internal compliance checks—not an internal investigation. There is a clear difference between the two.’ He added that no breach of the agreed conditions was found at the time.
Clarifying Institutional Responsibilities
The Commission reiterated that approving a former commissioner’s subsequent employment and monitoring compliance with related ethical conditions are separate from investigating possible breaches of duty. The latter falls outside the Commission’s remit—and instead lies with Belgian judicial authorities, who are leading the Qatargate probe.
Commission spokesperson Paola Pini underscored this division: ‘Approving a former commissioner’s future activity is one thing; investigating alleged misconduct is another entirely.’
Avramopoulos’s Earlier Statements
The Commission’s statement follows a recent interview by Avramopoulos with Euractiv, issued after Belgian prosecutors requested the lifting of his parliamentary immunity as part of the Qatargate investigation. In that interview, Avramopoulos claimed an ‘in-depth investigation at all levels’ had been carried out at the Commission’s request—and that it found no evidence of his involvement or influence regarding the EU’s visa liberalization decision for Qatar.
He also reaffirmed that his role at Fight Impunity was formally approved, fully transparent, and strictly honorary—carrying no executive or financial responsibilities. He denied allegations of lobbying for Qatar, noting that, as the responsible Commissioner, he had actually issued a negative opinion on the visa agreement.
On the Term ‘Keratades’
Separately, Avramopoulos addressed controversy over his use of the Greek slang term ‘keratades’ (literally ‘horned ones’, often used pejoratively). Speaking on Action24 on Wednesday evening, the New Democracy MP clarified that his comment referred not to Greek prosecutors—whom he said he respects and values—but to low-ranking Belgian police officers involved in the case.