“This case never concerned me,” Dimitris Avramopoulos says regarding the connection of his name to the NGO Fight Impunity, founded by Antonio Panzeri, the former MEP at the center of the Qatargate scandal.

“The issue that some attempted to link to my name was closed three years ago, with full institutional transparency and the seal of approval of the European Commission, following a decision signed by its President, Ursula von der Leyen. My participation in Fight Impunity, alongside prominent international figures, was entirely lawful, reviewed, approved, declared, and taxed. I had no involvement, direct or indirect, in anything improper,” he clarifies.

Regarding the arrest warrant issued by the Belgian judiciary, he states that he will not invoke any parliamentary immunity. On the contrary, he says he will personally turn to the Greek judicial authorities, requesting that the matter be fully investigated and ruled upon.

Full statement by Dimitris Avramopoulos regarding the Fight Impunity matter

I was informed by journalists that a document has reportedly been sent by the Belgian authorities to the Greek authorities, in which an attempt is made, without any basis, to link my name to the Fight Impunity case.

This case never concerned me.

The issue that some attempted to connect to my name was closed three years ago, with full institutional transparency and the seal of approval of the European Commission, following a decision signed by its President, Ursula von der Leyen.

My participation in Fight Impunity, alongside prominent international figures, was entirely lawful, reviewed, approved, declared, and taxed.

There was no involvement on my part, direct or indirect, in anything improper.

Any attempt by the Belgian authorities to revive this matter and involve my name in any issue related to Fight Impunity, whether through unfounded allegations or through the distortion of actual events, is arbitrary, unacceptable, suspicious, and will be met with every legal means available.

Although this is a completely unfounded matter, I state clearly that I will not invoke any parliamentary immunity. On the contrary, I will personally appeal to the Greek judicial authorities, requesting that the matter be fully investigated and adjudicated.

Arrest warrant from the Belgian authorities

Earlier, the Belgian judiciary requested the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of Dimitris Avramopoulos through an arrest warrant so that the former European Commissioner could provide explanations to Belgian judicial authorities.

The former Commissioner participated in an NGO founded by Antonio Panzeri, the former MEP implicated in the Qatargate scandal, in which Eva Kaili had been placed in pre-trial detention.

The former Commissioner states that he declared in his asset declaration (“Pothen Esches”) all remuneration received from the NGO for the year 2019. However, the Belgian judiciary alleges that he received money from a “criminal network.”

According to reports, the Greek judicial authorities have already been informed of this development. However, the warrant cannot be executed immediately, as the lifting of Dimitris Avramopoulos’ parliamentary immunity by Parliament is required first.

As provided by the procedure, the relevant case file is forwarded from the Athens Court of Appeal Prosecutor’s Office to the Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court and subsequently, through the Ministry of Justice, to Parliament for the necessary actions.

Judicial sources also stated that Mr. Avramopoulos visited the Athens Court of Appeal Prosecutor’s Office at midday. It is recalled that, since the beginning of the Qatargate investigation, he has rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing, insisting that all of his actions were entirely lawful.

On December 19, 2022, Dimitris Avramopoulos stated:

“My participation in Fight Impunity was, from the outset, entirely without executive or managerial responsibilities.

The committee in which I participated, together with personalities such as Federica Mogherini, former French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, and Senator Emma Bonino, was honorary in nature.

For my participation and the remuneration accompanying it, I sought the approval of the European Commission, which was granted to me in writing by President von der Leyen.

A corresponding positive opinion regarding my participation in the organization’s honorary committee was issued by the European Commission’s Independent Ethical Committee on December 10, 2020.

The remuneration covered a one-year period, from February 2021 to February 2022, amounting to €5,000 per month, which was declared and taxed in Greece in accordance with Greek law (net amount: €3,750).

After one year, in February 2022, because the organization’s activity had diminished, I requested that the remuneration be discontinued, and it was stopped.

From March onward, my participation had effectively ended.

As soon as I learned of what had recently occurred in Brussels, I immediately and irrevocably submitted my resignation and requested that my name be removed from the website, together with the other personalities who had served on the committee.”

See the European documents cited by Avramopoulos’ side, which they argue demonstrate that he had authorization both from the EU’s Independent Ethical Committee and from Ursula von der Leyen’s office to participate in Panzeri’s Fight Impunity as a former European Commissioner.