EU Parliament launches 'internal' investigation over corruption charges

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - The European Parliament will launch an "internal" investigation over corruption charges, with its head Roberta Metsola saying "there will be no sweeping under the carpet."

Eva Kaili, one of the 14 vice presidents of the European legislative body from Greece's central-left PASOK-KINAL party, was arrested on Friday by Belgium police after her house was searched on corruption charges allegedly linked to Qatar.

Her father was also detained after finding him in possession of a large amount of cash in a suitcase, local reports showed.

"This a test of our values, systems, and colleagues, and we will meet this test head on. There will be no impunity," Metsola said addressing the parliament. "I'm in politics like so many of you here to fight corruption to stand up for the principles of Europe."

Pointing that they will launch a reform process to see who has access to EU premises, she said: "We will shake up this parliament and ask for more transparency on meetings with foreign actors and those links to them. How these organizations NGOs and people are funded, what links which third countries they have."

- Qatar rejects allegations

Qatar has dismissed "baseless and gravely misinformed" allegations of misconduct that have shaken the European Parliament.

"Qatar categorically rejects any attempts to associate it with accusations of misconduct. Any association of the Qatari government with the reported claims is baseless and gravely misinformed," Doha’s mission to the EU said in a statement on Sunday.

It added that the Gulf state "works through institution-to-institution engagement and operates in full compliance with international laws and regulations."