Embattled MEP Eva Kaili, who remains jailed in Belgium amid an unprecedented criminal investigation into corruption and influence peddling in the EU’s Parliament, on Tuesday evening – via her attorney – denied charges that she received cash for promoting Qatar’s interests in Brussels.
In a first, albeit conveyed, statement since her judicial remand by Belgian prosecutors last week, she reportedly countered that “it is absolutely false that I had a personal agenda, which I used or promoted the state of Qatar.”
According to her attorney in Greece, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, the 44-year-old Greek Euro-MP – who until Tuesday was also the EP’s vice-president – said discussions to boost the Union’s trade and business relations with Gulf countries began in 2019. Qatar, along with Kuwait and Oman were cited.
Moreover, she claimed that the it was a pair of top EU leaders who first tabled the issue of boosting relations, namely, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson. In continuing to “name drop”, Dimitrakopoulos said Kaili also cited EP President Roberta Metsola as fully approving of the initiative.
His client has no relation to the cash
Kaili’s attorney in Greece, whose is different from the legal team she has reportedly retained in Belgium, also claimed that his client has no relation to the cash seized by Belgian police, while repeating that she was not bribed by Qatar and provided no services to the Gulf state.
“Qatar had no obligation to Kaili, it (the country) spoke directly with the European Union,” the lawyer said, during an appearance on a prime-time Athens channel’s newscast.
Speaking ahead of a court appearance on Wednesday in Brussels, in the preliminary phase of the judicial process, he also said the case was not criminal in nature, but a civil case.
στο Google News και μάθετε πρώτοι όλες τις ειδήσειςLatest News
Tender for Repairs on Athens Olympic Stadium’s (OAKA) Iconic Roof
Tender for OAKA project, which is expected to exceed 78 million euros, stipulates that repairs, maintenance must be conducted while venue remains open for events
Louis-Dreyfus Family Eyes 21% Stake in Thessaloniki Port
The newly created Amsterdam-based LeonidsPort company has submitted a voluntary public offer for 21%
EUIPO Throws Out Turkaegean Trademark
The trademark had been filed by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) in 2021 and immediately generated heated opposition by Athens
Economic Sentiment Indicator in Greece Drops Slightly in Dec.
The data revealed that the primary drivers of the slight drop were the industrial and retail trade sectors. Conversely, construction and consumer confidence improved.
Greece’s Trade Deficit Surges by 18.7% in Nov. 2024
For the first 11 months of 2024, the total value of imports reached 77.3793 billion euros, a 1.9% rise compared to 75.9482 billion euros in the same period of 2023.
Installing EV Chargers in Your Building is Harder than You Think
So, you just bought an EV in Greece and can’t wait to set up a charger in your apartment building’s parking space? Not so fast—there are a few hurdles you’ll need to clear first.
Greece Announces Grants to Unemployed for New SMEs
Unemployed individuals seeking 12-month grants to fund the creation of new SMEs can apply online until January 21.
Port of Piraeus Reports Record-breaking Year for Cruise Sector
First cruise ship of the season, Viking Saturn, greeted at Greece's largest, busiest port
Greek Energy Minister Skylakakis Announces Subsidies to Mitigate Electricity Prices
“When prices exceed a certain threshold, we intervene,” said Skylakakis
Mitsotakis: Greece is a Beacon of Stability in an Unstable World
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described Greece as a "beacon of stability in an unstable world" following the Epiphany water blessing ceremony at Dexameni Square in Athens.
