A global labour chief and a former EU commissioner admitted Tuesday (20 February) that that they had acquired respectively €50,000 euros and €60,000 from an NGO on the coronary heart of an investigation into allegations Qatar tried to deprave the European Parliament.
Luca Visentini, an Italian commerce unionist and normal secretary of the Worldwide Commerce Union Confederation (ITUC) insisted in a press assertion that he was given the money to refund his marketing campaign to take over as normal secretary of ITUC.
The commerce unionist denied studies that he had resigned as ITUC chief, saying he had determined to step apart, “a form of self-suspension”, and was on vacation.
“I accepted this donation in money due to the standard of the donor and its non-profit character,” he stated.
“I used to be not requested, neither did I ask something in trade for the cash and no circumstances in anyway have been set for this donation.
“This donation was not related to any try of corruption, nor to affect my commerce union place on Qatar or on another points,” he stated.
“I brazenly reject any potential allegations on this respect as being completely unfaithful.”
The ITUC board will meet on Wednesday to debate Visentini’s case.
Visentini acquired the money from the Brussels-based marketing campaign group Battle Impunity, based by former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, who has been arrested and charged with corruption and money-laundering.
Prosecutors allege that Panzeri used the NGO to finance an online of corruption within the European Parliament on behalf of the Gulf monarchy of Qatar. Qatar insists it has no function within the scandal.
Visentini was detained for questioning throughout a collection of Belgian police raids that uncovered round 1.5 million euros in money however has been launched with out cost whereas remaining a suspect.
4 suspects — Panzeri, Greek MEP Eva Kaili, Kaili’s accomplice Francesco Giorgi and Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, whose NGO “No Peace With out Justice” shares an tackle with Battle Impunity — have been charged.
The case has despatched shockwaves by the European Parliament and triggered guarantees of reform.
Individually, former European commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos informed the Greek information company Ana that he had acquired 60,000 euros from Battle Impunity between February 2021 and February 2022.
Avramopoulos, a former Greek international minister and a member of the European Fee between 2014 and 2019, has resigned as an honorary member of the NGO’s board.
The web site of the organisation nevertheless continues to checklist him as board member.
(Edited by Georgi Gotev)
