Belgian police say it's searched multiple European Commission offices in Brussels on Thursday as part of an investigation into the 2024 sale of European Commission owned buildings to the Belgian state.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which is leading the probe, confirmed it is conducting “evidence-collecting activities” in relation to an ongoing investigation but declined to provide further details in order to protect proceedings.
According to a report by Britains Financial Times, which first reported the inquiry, the searches took place at multiple Commission locations, including the budget department. Citing sources, the FT said the investigation concerns the sale of 23 Commission buildings to Belgium’s sovereign wealth fund, the Federal Holding and Investment Company SFPIM, in a transaction reported to be worth approximately €900 million.
The EU's executive body and SFPIM said they were cooperating fully with the investigation.
A European Commission spokesperson told POLITICO that the property sale followed established procedures and protocols and was conducted in compliance with applicable financial regulations. The spokesperson added that the Commission is committed to transparency and will cooperate fully with EPPO and the competent Belgian authorities.
The transaction took place during the previous Commission mandate, when Johannes Hahn served as commissioner responsible for budget matters.
Belgian police declined to comment. The Belgian prosecutor's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
No charges have been announced.
An opposition politician in Georgia has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for defacing an election banner, pro...
Uzbekistan has launched the next phase of its first nuclear power plant (NPP) project, with initial concrete works now under way at the constructio...
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN), said on Wednesday that the U.S. had “...
Russia’s Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, major export terminals, suspended loadings of crude oil and refined products on Wednesday aft...
A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid arrived in Havana on Tuesday morning (24 March) amid a U.S. oil blockade t...
An opposition politician in Georgia has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for defacing an election banner, prompting strong reactions at home and abroad.
Uzbekistan has launched the next phase of its first nuclear power plant (NPP) project, with initial concrete works now under way at the construction site in the Farish district of the Jizzakh region, according to the national atomic energy agency, Uzatom.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN), said on Wednesday that the U.S. had “clearly made a mistake” in launching strikes on Iran, arguing Washington misjudged the resilience of the Iranian regime.
Russia’s Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, major export terminals, suspended loadings of crude oil and refined products on Wednesday after large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks triggered a blaze, sources told Reuters.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was talking to the right people in Iran to make a deal on Tuesday (24 March), as Pakistan's Prime Minister offered to host peace talks between the two countries to bring about an end to the conflict.
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East as the rest of the world battle with the consequences of the war. Welcome to AnewZ's coverage of the tensions in the Middle East.
Afghan authorities say Pakistani jets entered northern Afghanistan, while Pakistan insists its actions target terrorism, highlighting continued strain after a temporary Eid ceasefire ended.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen resigned on Wednesday after her coalition suffered a heavy election defeat, triggering negotiations over who will form the next government.
Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, the Israeli military said, after U.S. President Donald Trump postponed a threat to bomb the Islamic Republic's power grid because of what he described as productive talks with Iranian officials.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN), said on Wednesday that the U.S. had “clearly made a mistake” in launching strikes on Iran, arguing Washington misjudged the resilience of the Iranian regime.
Russia’s Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, major export terminals, suspended loadings of crude oil and refined products on Wednesday after large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks triggered a blaze, sources told Reuters.
The UK government is to trial social media bans, curfews and app time limits in the homes of 300 teenagers, as part of a wider consultation on restricting under-16s’ access to platforms and improving online safety.
Hungary will gradually halt gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries resume via the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Wednesday.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's Social Democrats were headed for their worst election outcome in more than a century on Tuesday, as migration and welfare concerns obscured broad support for her defiant stance toward Washington over Greenland.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment