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Belgian Judge Issues European Arrest Warrant for Ex‑Commissioner Avramopoulos

The warrant raises a test for Greece because its parliament must lift his immunity before Belgian authorities can carry out an arrest.

European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos attends a news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 18, 2019.   Lehtikuva/Emmi Korhonen via REUTERS

Overview

  • A Belgian investigating judge issued a European arrest warrant linked to the 2022 Qatargate probe, Greek officials confirmed late Monday.
  • Prosecutors allege the case ties Avramopoulos to a wider scheme that investigators say involved payments to influence EU officials.
  • Avramopoulos denies wrongdoing, says he will not invoke parliamentary immunity, and says he will ask Greek courts to open an inquiry.
  • Execution of the warrant depends on a vote in the Greek parliament to lift his immunity, making the decision a political as well as legal step.
  • The case revives questions about Fight Impunity, the NGO that paid Avramopoulos about €73,000, and follows the 2022 Brussels raids that seized roughly €1.5 million in cash.