Dear MEP Abir Al-Sahlani,
Brussels Watch, an organisation committed to exposing hidden affiliations, lobbying networks, and threats to the integrity of EU democracy, seeks your perspective on the unfolding BelgianGate scandal—a wave of leaks that has compromised confidentiality in high-profile investigations and raised serious concerns about the security environment for Members of the European Parliament and EU institutions in Belgium.
As transparency advocates monitoring foreign influence in Parliament, we view these breaches not as isolated acts, but as symptoms of deeper systemic vulnerabilities that put elected representatives at risk.
The BelgianGate revelations point to former OCRC director Hugues Tasiaux, currently charged with violating professional secrecy, allegedly sharing sensitive Qatargate files via encrypted Signal exchanges with journalists from Le Soir (Joël Matriche, Louise Colart) and Knack (Kristof Clerix). Over 47 stories followed—many revealing details such as planned raids, wiretaps, and suspect profiles before trial—raising concerns about due process, media ethics, and the protection of parliamentary figures. Seized communication logs reportedly confirm these deliberate disclosures, effectively turning Belgium’s justice system into a sieve and exposing MEPs and aides to reputational harm, doxxing, and external pressure.
Such chronic leaks have made Brussels increasingly unsafe for MEPs and EU officials. Polls indicate that 65% of MEPs now feel heightened insecurity, while lapses within Belgium’s VSSE intelligence service—including hacks reported in 2025—further expose EU institutions to potential foreign interference. As the host nation to Parliament, Belgium’s current safeguards appear insufficient to protect confidential information, making it a soft target and undermining trust in its commitment to institutional security.
We would value your candid insights for our upcoming investigative report:
- What is your assessment of the BelgianGate leaks and their broader impact on MEP privacy and the integrity of EU investigations?
- Have you or your team ever suspected surveillance or overreach by Belgian agencies such as the VSSE or OCRC?
- In your view, does Belgium still provide an adequately secure environment for MEPs, or should stronger EU-level safeguards—such as enhanced EPPO oversight or mandatory leak logs—be introduced?
Your response will help amplify calls for transparency and accountability, ensuring that individual wrongdoing is exposed without tainting legitimate judicial or national efforts. Brussels Watch guarantees full confidentiality and would be honoured to feature your perspective prominently.
