Qatargate: EU Arrest Warrant Issued for Former Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos

The Qatargate corruption probe, one of the biggest scandals to hit the European Union, took a dramatic new turn on June 22, 2026, when Belgian authorities issued a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) against former European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos . The warrant, confirmed by a Greek government official and Belgian prosecutors, accuses the current Greek MP of corruption, participation in a criminal organization, and influence-peddling linked to lobbying for Qatar and Morocco via the NGO Fight Impunity . Avramopoulos denies all wrongdoing and has publicly requested the lifting of his parliamentary immunity so he can testify before a Greek judge .

The arrest warrant follows a four-year investigation into allegations that Qatar, Morocco, and Mauritania paid bribes to influence European Parliament decisions . The case first exploded in December 2022 with the arrest of former European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili and others .

The European Arrest Warrant

A Belgian investigating judge issued the EAW for Avramopoulos, who served as EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship from 2014 to 2019 . The warrant relates specifically to accusations that Avramopoulos participated in a "criminal organization" and engaged in money laundering .

The warrant cannot be executed immediately because Avramopoulos holds a seat in the Greek Parliament as a member of the ruling New Democracy party, which grants him parliamentary immunity . The Belgian request for a waiver of immunity has been transmitted by the Greek Supreme Court prosecutor's office to the Greek Justice Ministry and must be submitted to the Greek Parliament for a vote .

The Fight Impunity NGO Link and Alleged Payments

At the center of the allegations against Avramopoulos is his involvement with Fight Impunity (formally the Association Against Impunity and for Transitional Justice), an NGO founded by former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri — who has already pleaded guilty in the Qatargate case . Belgian prosecutors allege that Avramopoulos received payments totaling roughly €73,000 from the NGO as part of a broader scheme to lobby on behalf of Qatar and Morocco .

Avramopoulos served as a member of Fight Impunity's honorary board, a role he took after leaving the European Commission. His associates maintain that the €73,000 payments were for legitimate services, were properly declared, and received prior approval from the European Commission's Ethics Committee . They stress that his cooperation with the NGO ended before the Qatargate scandal broke in December 2022 .

European Commission Ethical Approval

A critical element of Avramopoulos's defense is that he sought and received approval from the European Commission's Independent Ethical Committee before taking the paid role with Fight Impunity . The committee issued a formal opinion on December 10, 2020, after Avramopoulos informed the Commission that the position as a member of the Honorary Board would be remunerated for one year starting October 1, 2020, and involved "active promotion of the activities of the organisation at international level" .

A European Commission spokesperson confirmed on June 23, 2026, that the ethics panel had approved the request, noting that at the time of the review there was no indication of illegal activity by the NGO . The Commission has stated that Avramopoulos's approved NGO activities are a separate matter from the alleged misconduct which is the subject of the ongoing investigation .

Transparency International EU has called for an independent inquiry into the conditions surrounding the Commission's approval of Avramopoulos's appointment to Fight Impunity .

The Immunity Hurdle

Avramopoulos's status as a sitting Greek MP for New Democracy creates a legal barrier to his arrest. The Belgian request for a waiver of his immunity must be approved by a vote in the Greek Parliament before the warrant can be executed .

Avramopoulos, however, has stated he will not invoke his immunity and has personally appealed to Greek judicial authorities to proceed with a full investigation . He has requested to testify before a Greek judge and repeatedly called for his immunity to be lifted so he can clear his name .

Avramopoulos's Denial and Defense

In a statement issued on June 22, 2026, Avramopoulos said he had "no involvement, direct or indirect" in the Qatargate scandal . He described his participation in Fight Impunity as "absolutely legal, audited, approved, declared, and taxed" and said his role was purely honorary with no executive or management responsibilities .

His defense team has argued that his participation was "institutionally disclosed and approved activity" that had been vetted and officially permitted by the European Commission . Avramopoulos has also noted that he served on an advisory committee alongside prominent international figures including former EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, former French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, and Italian Senator Emma Bonino .

Broader Context: The Qatargate Scandal

The Qatargate scandal first emerged in December 2022 when Belgian police raided locations across Brussels and seized hundreds of thousands of euros in cash . The scandal, widely regarded as one of the largest corruption cases to rock the EU, centers on allegations that Qatar, Morocco, and Mauritania sought to influence European Parliament decision-making through payments and gifts to current and former lawmakers . Both Qatar and Morocco have consistently denied wrongdoing .

Former European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili and former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri have been among the key figures charged in the investigation. Panzeri's guilty plea and cooperation with prosecutors has been a driving force behind the probe . Avramopoulos resigned from Fight Impunity shortly after the scandal broke in 2022 .