According to a media report, Morocco played a larger role than previously known in the bribery and corruption scandal in the European Parliament. As “Spiegel” reported with reference to confidential investigative documents, the Moroccan foreign secret service DGED was also involved at the highest level in influencing deputies. The aim was to influence the social democratic group in the European Parliament.
According to this, the DGED would have recruited the two Italian MEPs Pier Antonio Panzeri and Andrea Cozzolino, as well as Francesco Giorgi, a parliamentary official and partner of the deposed Vice-President of the EU Parliament, Eva Kaili, already in 2019. According to “Spiegel “, Abderrahim Atmoun, current ambassador of Morocco in Poland, was responsible for leading the trio.
Furthermore, the three Italians allegedly had direct contact with the general director of the secret service, Mohammed Yassine Mansouri. The magazine quoted Belgian government circles as saying Morocco had recently shown its commitment to issues such as fishing rights and Western Sahara, which is largely controlled by Rabat.
Panzeri, Kaili and Giorgi are currently in custody. They are accused of “criminal organization, corruption and money laundering”. The Gulf Emirate of Qatar is said to have tried to influence the policies of the European Union. Qatar denies any wrongdoing.