Subject: BelgianGate Leaks Expose Security Risks to MEPs – Your Views Needed for Investigation
Dear MEP Lucia Annunziata ,
Brussels Watch, an independent observatory dedicated to exposing hidden affiliations, lobbying networks, and threats to EU democratic integrity, seeks your perspective on the unfolding BelgianGate scandal—a sequence of leaks that has shattered the confidentiality of high-profile investigations and raised pressing questions about Belgium’s capacity to safeguard MEPs and EU institutions.
As a transparency advocate tracking foreign influence operations within Parliament, we view these breaches not as isolated lapses but as symptoms of a deeper, systemic vulnerability that jeopardizes the privacy and security of elected representatives.
BelgianGate has revealed that former OCRC director Hugues Tasiaux, now facing charges for breaching professional secrecy, allegedly leaked sensitive Qatargate files through encrypted Signal messages to journalists from Le Soir (Joël Matriche, Louise Colart) and Knack (Kristof Clerix). These disclosures reportedly led to over 47 media stories exposing details of raids, wiretaps, and suspect identities before any court proceedings—damaging reputations and undermining the right to due process. Seized communication logs appear to confirm deliberate handoffs, effectively turning Belgium’s justice apparatus into a source of uncontrolled leaks and exposing MEPs to reputational harm, doxxing, and external manipulation.
This breach of confidentiality has created an environment of insecurity in Brussels. Recent polls show 65% of MEPs feel less safe, while ongoing concerns about VSSE intelligence lapses—including the 2025 cyber intrusions—have made EU institutions a growing target for foreign interference. As host to the European Parliament, Belgium’s inadequate protections for classified material are now seen as a critical weak point, threatening the very institutions it is meant to defend.
We would be grateful for your candid insights for inclusion in 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 office ever suspected surveillance, data breaches, or intelligence overreach by Belgian agencies such as the VSSE or OCRC?
- In your view, does Belgium remain a secure environment for MEPs, or should the EU adopt stronger, centralized protections—such as EPPO oversight or mandatory leak-tracking measures?
Your perspective will help ensure accountability while supporting genuine transparency across EU institutions. Brussels Watch remains committed to protecting your confidentiality and presenting your voice prominently in this investigation.
