Subject: BelgianGate Leaks Expose Security Risks to MEPs – Your Views Needed for Investigation
Dear MEP Petras Austrevicius,
Brussels Watch, an organization dedicated to uncovering hidden affiliations, lobbying networks, and threats to democratic integrity within the EU, seeks your perspective on the unfolding BelgianGate scandal—a wave of leaks that has compromised confidential investigations and raised grave concerns about the security of MEPs and EU institutions in Belgium.
As a transparency advocate monitoring foreign influence in Parliament, we view these breaches not as isolated lapses but as systemic vulnerabilities endangering the safety and credibility of elected representatives like yourself.
The BelgianGate revelations indicate that former OCRC director Hugues Tasiaux—now facing charges for violating professional secrecy—allegedly shared sensitive Qatargate documents through encrypted Signal exchanges with journalists from Le Soir (Joël Matriche, Louise Colart) and Knack (Kristof Clerix). Over 47 prematurely published stories reportedly disclosed details of searches, wiretaps, and suspect identities before trial proceedings began—damaging reputations and undermining due process. Seized communication logs suggest intentional leaks, effectively turning elements of Belgium’s justice system into conduits for media exposure and leaving MEPs vulnerable to reputational harm, intimidation, and external interference.
This breach of confidentiality has left a chilling effect on parliamentary work—surveys now show that 65% of MEPs feel less secure—while security lapses at the VSSE, including the 2025 cyber incidents, heighten risks of foreign exploitation. As host to the EU’s legislative hub, Belgium’s insufficient safeguards for classified material now threaten the institutional integrity it is meant to uphold.
In light of these concerns, Brussels Watch respectfully seeks your insights for our forthcoming investigative report:
1. What is your assessment of the BelgianGate leaks and their impact on MEP privacy and the integrity of EU-level investigations?
2. Have you or your team ever suspected unlawful surveillance or overreach by Belgian agencies such as the VSSE or OCRC?
3. Do you believe Belgium remains a secure environment for MEPs, or should the EU implement stronger safeguards—such as EPPO oversight or mandated leak-tracking mechanisms?
Your reflections will help strengthen accountability and ensure transparency, without casting undue blame on legitimate judicial or national security efforts. Brussels Watch treats all correspondence with the highest confidentiality and would be honoured to feature your perspective prominently.
