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.
In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a Wh...
Britain said on Thursday that around 40 countries are exploring ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route effectively blocked...
American President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to pull the United States out of NATO after European nations refused to join a U.S.-led nav...
Former Kyrgyz MP Shairbek Tashiev has been detained in a corruption investigation linked to state oil firm Kyrgyzneftegaz, as the case expands to i...
France has unveiled a delayed wave of renewable energy tenders to boost energy independence and strengthen domestic and European industry....
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.
There are fears of an oil spill after a drone strike hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai on Tuesday, while U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran reportedly killed at least two people. A loud explosion was heard in Beirut in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel.
Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile missile attacks, tanker incidents and rising casualties across Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf heighten risks to regional stability and energy routes.
Russian-flagged tanker carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil docked at Cuba's Matanzas oil terminal on Tuesday, shipping data confirmed, marking a vital and controversial delivery to an island paralysed by severe energy shortages and a suffocating U.S. blockade.
A Russian military An-26 aircraft has crashed in Crimea, killing all 30 people on board, Russia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed.
Explosions were heard in the Syrian capital Damascus as Israeli air defences intercepted Iranian missiles, Syrian state television reported on Tuesday.
In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.
American President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to pull the United States out of NATO after European nations refused to join a U.S.-led naval mission to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
France has unveiled a delayed wave of renewable energy tenders to boost energy independence and strengthen domestic and European industry.
China is emerging as one of the more stable economies amid the latest global oil shock, thanks to years of planning, diversified energy sources and a steady shift towards renewable power.
In a major policy reversal, the U.S. Treasury has removed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, from its sanctions list, signalling a sharp shift in Washington’s approach to Caracas.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment