The European arrest warrant issued by Belgian authorities against former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos — as part of the ongoing Qatargate corruption investigation — was formally transmitted to the Hellenic Parliament on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.
Parliamentary Procedure Underway
The warrant has not yet been executed, as its enforcement requires the lifting of Avramopoulos’s parliamentary immunity. With the case file now before Parliament, the constitutional process begins: first, the Committee on Ethics will convene; then, the matter will go to a named vote in the full plenary session to decide whether to lift the immunity of the MP for Elis.
Charges Alleged
According to reports, the Belgian warrant accuses Avramopoulos of three offences under Belgian law: participation in a criminal organisation, public bribery, and money laundering from illegal activities. Under Greek law, these correspond to: participation in a criminal organisation; repeated bribery of a public official; and repeated money laundering from illegal sources.
Fight Impunity and the Qatargate Context
The charges relate to Avramopoulos’s one-year involvement (February 2021–February 2022) with the NGO Fighting Impunity, founded by former MEP Antonio Panzeri. During that period, he received €76,150 in compensation — a sum he says was fully declared in his asset disclosure statement and taxed accordingly.
This development renews attention on the Qatargate scandal that rocked the European Parliament in 2022, leading to the pre-trial detention of former Vice-President Eva Kaili.
Avramopoulos Denies Involvement
In a public statement, Avramopoulos asserted he had no involvement in the alleged misconduct, stressing that the matter was resolved three years ago. He confirmed he would not invoke parliamentary immunity and intends to voluntarily appear before Greek judicial authorities to assist in a full investigation.
His associates emphasise that his work with Fighting Impunity was a formally disclosed and approved post-commission activity, carried out in compliance with EU ethics rules governing former Commissioners’ professional engagements. They note he submitted his participation for prior review by the European Commission, which was examined by the relevant bodies and officially approved.
Regarding remuneration, they clarify that his role carried a monthly honorarium of €5,000 (gross), paid over 12 months — an amount disclosed to the Commission during the approval process.