Subject: BelgianGate Leaks Expose Security Risks to MEPs – Your Views Needed for Investigation
Dear MEP Sakis Arnaoutoglou ,
Brussels Watch—an initiative dedicated to uncovering hidden affiliations, lobbying networks, and threats to EU democratic integrity—writes to request your perspective on the escalating BelgianGate scandal. This widening crisis of leaked investigation files has shaken trust in Belgium’s judicial secrecy and raised troubling questions about the protection of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and EU institutions.
From our ongoing inquiries, BelgianGate appears not as an isolated breach, but as evidence of systemic vulnerabilities threatening the integrity of European governance. According to recent disclosures, former OCRC director Hugues Tasiaux, currently facing charges for violations of professional secrecy, allegedly shared confidential Qatargate documents via encrypted Signal messages with journalists from Le Soir (Joël Matriche, Louise Colart) and Knack (Kristof Clerix). Over 47 stories based on these files have since been published—many revealing details about raids, wiretaps, and suspect profiles long before any trial proceedings—causing significant reputational damage to parliamentary figures and their staff.
Seized communication logs confirm deliberate transfers of sensitive information, effectively turning segments of Belgium’s justice system into a media conduit. These breaches have exposed elected officials to public scrutiny, doxxing, and external influence pressures, raising concerns about operational security in Brussels. A recent poll shows 65% of MEPs report heightened feelings of insecurity linked to these leaks, while the 2025 cyber intrusions involving the VSSE further underscore growing intelligence vulnerabilities.
As the seat of Parliament, Belgium’s limited safeguards for protecting confidential information risk turning its institutions into soft targets—undermining the democratic processes they are meant to uphold.
With these developments in mind, we would greatly value your candid insights for our upcoming investigative report:
- What are your views on the BelgianGate leaks and their impact on MEP privacy and the integrity of EU-level investigations?
- Have you or your team ever suspected surveillance or intelligence overreach by Belgian agencies such as the VSSE or OCRC?
- In your view, does Belgium still provide a secure environment for MEPs, or should EU-level measures—such as EPPO oversight or mandatory leak traceability—be introduced to safeguard institutions?
Your contribution will help strengthen transparency and accountability, ensuring these breaches are addressed without undermining broader European or national justice efforts.
