Former European Commissioner and New Democracy MP Dimitris Avramopoulos dismissed the Qatar Gate investigation as baseless, calling it “nonsense” during an appearance on SKAI TV. He reiterated statements he made earlier regarding the arrest warrant issued against him in connection with the case.
“I Was Never Asked to Explain Myself”
“I was never summoned to provide explanations,” Avramopoulos said, emphasizing that the matter first arose 2.5 years ago. He explained that the European Commission’s Ethics Committee had given him the green light to participate in the NGO Fight Impunity — founded by former EU official Michel Barnier — and that he had explicitly asked whether he could receive payment for his involvement.
He clarified that he joined Fight Impunity as an honorary member, with no executive role. His monthly compensation, he said, was €5,000 — later adjusted to €3,500 — which he declared and paid taxes on in Greece.
“The Arrest Warrant Is Invalid”
Avramopoulos stressed that the warrant was issued not by EU authorities but by Belgian police — specifically, officers from a local Belgian police station. He stated he had sought and received formal approval from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who signed off on his engagement. At the time, he was neither an active European Commissioner nor a sitting MP in Greece, meaning he was free to take on outside work.
He added that he could not have lobbied for Qatar, pointing out that he had voted against a visa-related proposal linked to the country. He also noted that Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis had held the Belgian police’s request in his office for two to three days before acting on it.
“I’m Not Afraid of Anything”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” Avramopoulos declared, insisting the arrest warrant is invalid. He criticized the investigation, saying it ignores the fact that the matter had already been examined two years earlier by EU ethics authorities. He also claimed that Belgian police officers involved in the initial handling of the case are now under internal review for failing to properly assess prior findings.
In a visibly frustrated moment, he concluded: “I won’t apologize to anyone — certainly not to any ‘horned one.’”