Roberta Metsola Says ‘Benefit Of Hindsight Always Easy’ After Approving Greek MEP’s Qatar Trip
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has defended her decision to approve a Greek MEP’s trip to Qatar a few months before that same MEP was charged with corruption in connection with the Gulf nation.
In an interview with The New York Times, Metsola was asked how she had approved Eva Kaili’s request to visit Qatar in October 2022 although the Qataris had earlier cancelled an official visit by an expert parliamentary committee was critical of the Gulf state.
Metsola defended her action by stating that Kaili had originally wanted blanket authorisation to visit Qatar but she turned down her request. However she approved her October trip so that she could “represent the EP’s positions in her capacity as vice president”.
The Maltese politician acknowledged that “suspicious” behaviour by Kaili before the trip, such as voting in favour of Qatar at a committee meeting over visa-free travel by Qataris to the EU, could have prompted her to think twice about approving her request.
“The benefit of hindsight is always easy though,” she added.
In December, Kaili – who was formerly one of the EP’s 14 vice-presidents – was charged with corruption and money laundering as part of an investigation by Belgian police into how Qatar had allegedly used bribes and gifts to try to influence decisions at the EU institution.
During the interview, Metsola also recounted how Belgian police had asked her to be physically present during the raid of another MEP – Belgian politician Marc Tarabella – as part of the same investigation.
“Knocking on that door was not easy. It had to be done, it’s never been done before, but who knows what else will need to be done,” she said, confirming that she will ask the EP to lift Tarabella’s immunity at the request of the Belgian authorities.
Faced with the scandal, which has been dubbed ‘Qatergate’ by some media outlets, Metsola has proposed a number of changes to improve transparency rules at the European Parliament.
Under the proposed rules, MEPs would be obliged to take a two-year “cooling-off” period before become lobbyists and there would be more effective enforcement on MEPs’ declaration of travel and gifts.
What do you make of Metsola’s perspective?
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