Belgian security agents bugged Huawei’s VIP box at RSC Anderlecht stadium as part of a corruption probe involving EU lawmakers and suspected lobbying by the Chinese tech giant.
Belgian intelligence services secretly recorded conversations inside a VIP box rented by Huawei at the RSC Anderlecht football stadium in Brussels, as part of a sweeping investigation into allegations of corruption and foreign influence within the European Parliament, POLITCO reports.
Three sources with direct knowledge of the operation said that Belgian agents also monitored Huawei’s senior lobbyist in other settings, including his personal vehicle. The surveillance led prosecutors to formally request that certain Members of the European Parliament have their immunity lifted, allowing for further investigation into their potential involvement.
The box, located at Lotto Park and acquired for the 2024/25 season for around €50,000, became a meeting space where Huawei representatives engaged with European lawmakers. According to those close to the investigation, invitations were first sent to assistants before reaching newly elected MEPs, as well as politicians from across party lines and former EU officials.
Belgian authorities are now examining whether this access was part of a broader strategy to influence EU policymaking in favor of Huawei. Investigators believe the luxury suite was used as a soft-power tactic to build relationships and potentially “grease” the political wheels, one source said.
Prosecutors are probing possible offenses ranging from bribery and improper influence to lavish gifts, funded trips, and exclusive event access offered to lawmakers and their teams. These activities are alleged to have occurred between 2021 and late 2024.
The operation reflects growing concern in Brussels over the depth of Chinese influence within EU institutions. Similar scandals in the past have prompted calls for stricter transparency and lobbying regulations.
A person familiar with the legal process said the use of such surveillance techniques is routine in corruption cases of this magnitude.
As scrutiny intensifies, Huawei and several individuals connected to the case are expected to face mounting pressure from Belgian and European authorities in the months ahead.
Kyrgyzstan recorded the largest increase in women’s representation in parliament worldwide in 2025, accordin...
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washin...
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as onli...
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong m...
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new lead...
Huawei’s AI research unit has rejected allegations that its Pangu Pro Moe model copied Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5, insisting it was independently developed.
A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday rejected Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's request to dismiss the majority of charges in a sweeping indictment, allowing the Chinese telecoms giant to face trial over allegations of trade secret theft, bank fraud, and sanctions violations.
Huawei Cloud wrapped up its TechWave Summit 2025 in Tashkent with a strong focus on AI-powered cloud solutions transforming industries across the Middle East and Central Asia.
Media City Qatar and Huawei have signed a memorandum of understanding to drive digital transformation in Qatar’s media sector through advanced technology solutions.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early on Monday (9 March) in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint release of oil from emergency reserves coordinated by the International Energy Agency, the Financial Times reports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 9th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment