A Belgian investigating judge has issued a European arrest warrant for former Greek European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, according to a Greek government official who confirmed the development late Monday. Belgian and Greek media had previously reported the warrant.
The warrant is tied to a major corruption scandal that first came to light in 2022, in which a number of European Union officials are accused of accepting bribes from Qatar in exchange for influencing EU policymaking. The case, widely referred to as “Qatargate,” has become one of the most significant scandals in the history of the 27-member bloc.
During the original investigation, authorities conducted raids and seized approximately €1.5 million — roughly $1.6 million — in cash. Some of that money was found stuffed inside a large suitcase at a Brussels hotel.
In a statement released Monday, Avramopoulos firmly rejected any accusations against him. “There was no direct or indirect involvement of mine in anything reprehensible,” he said. He also stated that he would not invoke parliamentary immunity to shield himself from the process. “On the contrary, I will appeal to the Greek judiciary myself, requesting that the matter be fully investigated and a decision be made,” he added.
Avramopoulos currently holds a seat in the Greek Parliament as a member of the ruling conservative New Democracy party. He previously served as the European Commissioner for Migration, a role he held until 2019. After leaving that post, he became affiliated with Fight Impunity, a non-governmental organization that has been linked to the Qatargate investigation. Fight Impunity did not respond to requests for comment.
The Belgian prosecutor’s office also declined to comment on the warrant. Qatar has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with the scandal.
