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Eva Kaili (Greek: Εύα Καϊλή; born 26 October 1978) is a Greek politician who was a member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2014 to 2024. She served as one of fourteen vice presidents of the European Parliament from January 2022 until she was arrested in December 2022 and charged with corruption as part of the Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament.

Key Information

Kaili was a Member of the Hellenic Parliament from 2007 to 2012. Before her political career, she was a news presenter for Greek television channel MEGA Channel from 2004 to 2007. Following her arrest on 9 December 2022, Kaili was held in pre-trial detention in Brussels until 14 April 2023, when she was released to house arrest with an electronic bracelet, a measure that was lifted on 25 May 2023. Through her lawyers, Kaili denied all charges. In September 2023, she secured an internal inquiry into how evidence against her was collected. In February 2024, Kaili announced she would not run for re-election as an MEP.

Early life and education

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Kaili was born in October 1978 in Thessaloniki to parents Maria Ignatiadou and Alexandros Kailis.[2] She has a younger sister, Madalena,[b] who is CEO of ELONTech, an organisation aligned to Kaili's parliamentary work on emerging technologies.[3]

Kaili studied architecture and civil engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.[1] In 2001, she was President of the School of Architecture Students' Association.[3] She continued her studies at the University of Piraeus where she obtained a Master of Arts degree in international and European affairs in 2008.[1]

Career

[edit]

Kaili was a newscaster at Mega Channel from 2004 until 2007.[1]

In 1992, Kaili joined the PASOK Youth. In 2002, she became the youngest member to be elected to the Thessaloniki City Council.[3]

Member of the Hellenic Parliament

[edit]
Kaili at a European Parliament debate on corruption in 2014

In the 2004 national elections, Kaili was the youngest candidate standing.[3] In the 2007 national elections, she was elected as a member of the Hellenic Parliament for the first district of Thessaloniki. At the time, she was the youngest Member of Parliament with the PASOK party.[4] She retained her seat in the 2009 national elections until 2012.

During her term in Parliament, Kaili served as a member of the following Parliamentary Committees: Standing Committee on Cultural and Educational Affairs, Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, and Special Permanent Committee of Greeks Abroad. She was also a member of the Greek delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.[1]

Ahead of a crucial vote of confidence for Prime Minister, George Papandreou in November 2011, Kaili made headlines when she announced that she would refuse to support the government in the vote; this would have left Papandreou with the support of just 151 PASOK deputies out of 300.[5] She later backtracked. Papandreou won the vote of confidence, with all 155 lawmakers of PASOK expressing their support for his beleaguered government.[6]

Member of the European Parliament

[edit]

Eva Kaili was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2014 and was a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group until her expulsion in December 2022. Between 2019 and 2022, Kaili had been the head of the Hellenic S&D delegation. She was vice president for Innovation Strategy, ICT, Technology, Foresight, Businesses, ESG and CSR, UN, WTO, OECD and the Middle East. She was the first woman Chair of the European Parliament's Science and Technology Options Assessment body (STOA) 2017–2022.[7][1] She was also Chair of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (C4AI), and Chair of the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (DNAT) 2014–2019. She has been serving on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL). She was an alternate member on the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) and on Delegation for relations with the Arabian Peninsula (DARP)[8] and was also involved in the Commission investigating the spyware Pegasus (PEGA).[7]

In addition to her committee assignments, Kaili was a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on Cancer,[9] the European Parliament Intergroup on Disability, the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) and the Delegation for Relations with the United States of America (D-US).[10] She was the recipient of a 2018 MEP Award for New Technologies.[11]

Kaili became one of fourteen vice presidents of the European Parliament on 18 January 2022 after being elected on the first round by 454 votes. She was suspended from her vice-presidential duties on 10 December 2022, following her arrest.[12][13] On 13 December 2022, the European Parliament voted to remove Kaili from her position as one of their vice presidents, with 625 votes in favour of removal, one against, and two abstentions.[14][15]

Arrest and corruption charges

[edit]
Main article: Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament

On 9 December 2022, Kaili was arrested by Belgian Federal Police following an investigation into organized crime, corruption and money laundering tied to lobbying efforts in support of Qatar. Because Kaili enjoyed parliamentary immunity, her arrest was not on the original planning of the operation launched by Belgian authorities that day, but developments during the day led investigating judge Michel Claise (overall head of the operation) to conclude that Kaili was caught in flagrante delicto.[16][17] A suitcase of cash was found with her father upon his arrest, and bags of cash were found at her home.[18] The same day she was suspended from both the Socialists and Democratic Group with which she sits in the European Parliament and her national party PASOK.[19] As part of the investigation, Belgian Police raided 16 homes and detained at least four others including parliamentary assistant Francesco Giorgi (Kaili's life partner[20]), former MEP Antonio Panzeri (for whom Giorgi had worked at parliament, and with whom he had founded the human rights NGO "Fight Impunity"),[21] and Kaili's father, Alexandros Kailis, who was arrested outside the hotel where he was staying with a suitcase of cash.[16][22][17] During the raids over €600,000 in cash was recovered by investigators.[23][24][25]

The arrest of Alexandros Kailis outside his hotel with the suitcase of cash led investigating judge Michel Claise to conclude that this was a case of Eva Kaili being caught In flagrante delicto; a special police team of around a dozen officers, accompanied by judge Claise in person, then headed for the home of Kaili and arrested her. Kaili did not resist, but was visibly shaken and in a state of shock and confusion, crying; Claise interrogated her for more than five hours.[16][26]

Kaili's lawyers, André Risopoulos and Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, protested the actions of Belgian authorities as a gross overreach of judicial power. In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Dimitrakopoulos said that Kaili's arrest and initial interrogations were problematic because she was in a state of shock, fear and confusion and that the Belgian authorities failed to provide her with a reliable French-language interpreter.[27] The lawyer further claimed that it was only after a week that Kaili could testify "in a calm environment", where she was "in good enough psychological condition to be fully aware of what she was saying", and that it was "the first time she had a good interpreter".[27]

On 12 December 2022, the Greek Anti-Money Laundering Authority announced that it had frozen all assets of Kaili and her close family members. This included all bank accounts, safes, companies and other financial assets. Of particular interest to the authorities, according to the head of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, is a newly established real estate company in the Athens district of Kolonaki.[28][29]

The timing of the arrests coincided with the 2022 FIFA World Cup being hosted in Qatar. At the time, there was significant criticism of the hosts within the European Union, but during a speech at the European Parliament, Kaili praised the country's human rights record and criticised accusations of corruption made against Qatar.[30][31]

On 5 January 2023, Kaili, from where she was held in Haren Prison outside Brussels, complained about her treatment by the Belgian authorities, in particular in delays regarding a visit from her daughter.[32] Kaili said: "I am being tortured, this is so unfair that I cannot stand it, and I am breaking down. What is the problem with my little girl, why are they keeping her away from me?".[c][32] The authorities responded by permitting Kaili to have a three-hour meeting with her 22-month-old daughter in prison on the afternoon of 6 January;[33] this was the first time Kaili had seen her daughter since her arrest in December.[34][35] Kaili's father, Alexandros Kailis, brought the child to Haren Prison.[35]

Kaili's three co-defendants, Francesco Giorgi (Kaili's boyfriend), Antonio Panzeri (an Italian former MEP and former Chair of the European Parliament Human Rights Subcommittee), and Niccolò Figà-Talamanca (a lobbyist and NGO activist) were described as pleading guilty to charges of corruption and money-laundering.[35]

While detained, Kaili was monitored by Haren Prison's in-house psychologists. Kaili declined to exercise her right, under Belgian law, to meet with a psychologist; however, Haren Prison staff judged it necessary for her.[36][37] The psychologists were also present during Kaili's meeting with her daughter.[37] Kaili's lawyers claimed that Belgian authorities were to blame for any psychological harm done to Kaili, especially in her early interrogations, which the lawyers contested as being legally problematic.[27]

On 19 January 2023, a scheduled hearing of the Court of First Instance in Brussels rejected Kaili's application to be freed from pre-trial detention and instead placed under alternative measures, such as an electronic bracelet.[38] Michalis Dimitrakopoulos (Kaili's lawyer) said: "For 16 hours she was in a police cell, and not in the prison. ... She was refused a second blanket. They took her jacket. This is torture".[38][39][40] "The light was on all the time. She couldn't sleep."[38][39] André Risopoulos (Kaili's Brussels-based lawyer) said that Kaili had been held in solitary confinement from 11 to 13 January 2023.[38][39] In response to these statements by Kaili's lawyers, a spokesperson of the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office said: "I haven't heard anything about this in the file or at any other time".[39]

A subsequent hearing on 16 February 2023 again rejected Kaili's request to be freed or placed under alternative measures, and decided that she should remain in pre-trial detention.[41] Kaili had changed her Belgian lawyer from André Risopoulo to Sven Mary some time before the hearing.[42]

Kaili was released from pre-trial detention to house arrest with an electronic bracelet on 14 April 2023.[43] One of the main reasons that led to her release was that her fingerprints were not found on the cash confiscated during the raids, while those of Kaili's co-defendants Antonio Panzeri and Francesco Giorgi were found.[44] Her Belgian lawyer, Sven Mary, said: "I will not comment further, other than the fact that this is a sensible decision that has been too long in coming."[45] On 25 May, Kaili's application to lift her house arrest and obligation to wear an electronic bracelet was successful; the release being subject to the usual conditions in such cases, as announced by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office.[46]

In June 2023, Michel Claise, the judge who had ordered Kaili's arrest and detention, was forced to resign from the case due to allegations of conflict of interest (Marie Arena’s son, Ugo Lemaire, and Michel Claise’s son, Nicolas Claise, were co-owners of the same company and have known each other for several years, according to public documents from the company and social media posts).[47] In September 2023, Kaili's lawyers secured an internal investigation into how evidence against her was collected and whether her parliamentary immunity was breached.[48] In February 2024, Kaili announced she would not run for re-election as an MEP.[49]

EU budget scandal charges

[edit]

In April 2023, Politico reported that Kaili was facing an additional criminal investigation over whether she and her former parliamentary assistants allegedly faked missions, trips and documents in order to get reimbursements or travel abroad at the expense of the European Union budget. Kaili was also being investigated for allegedly withholding parts of the salaries of her then-accredited parliamentary assistants.[50] In February 2024, the European Parliament removed Kaili's immunity as Member of the European Parliament (MEP), sending the file of the case for investigation to the relevant Greek authorities, who are responsible for assessing whether she misused from €120,000 to €150,000 in the scheme. Kaili denies all charges.[51]

Controversies inside PASOK

[edit]

Even before her arrest, Kaili was a controversial figure inside the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK),[52] since she had regularly distanced herself from PASOK and adopted positions similar to those of Greek conservative parties.[52] Following her arrest, PASOK president Nikos Androulakis described her as "a Trojan horse of New Democracy",[52][53] and announced that she would not be a candidate for PASOK again.[52]

In 2021 she was rumoured to plan a bid for the presidency of PASOK.[54]

Personal life

[edit]

Kaili and her partner Francesco Giorgi, a former parliamentary assistant, have a daughter born in 2021.[55]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Eva Kaili

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from Grokipedia
Eva Kaili is a Greek politician who served as a for the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats from 2014 until her in December 2022. She was elected one of the Parliament's fourteen vice-presidents in January 2022, but was swiftly removed from the role amid the Qatargate corruption probe, in which Belgian authorities accused her of accepting bribes from to influence EU decisions on and labor issues ahead of the , alongside charges of and belonging to a criminal organization. Kaili has denied all wrongdoing, asserting her innocence throughout and ongoing investigations as of 2025. Before her European role, she entered Greek national politics with , becoming the youngest member of the in 2006 after a career in and studies in , , and European affairs. In the Parliament, she chaired the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and advocated for digital innovation, regulation, and science policy.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Eva Kaili was born on October 26, 1978, in , . Her father, Alexandros Kailis, was born in and relocated to in the mid-1960s following the expulsion of the Greek population from ; he studied at and worked as a mechanical and electrical engineer, while also maintaining long-standing ties to the party. Her mother, Maria Ignatiadou, is of descent from Asia Minor, having grown up in ; she pursued interests in literature as a and trained at the Theatre School of the State Theatre of . Kaili has a younger sister, Mantalena Kaili, who later became a specializing in European policy and heads a lobbying firm focused on and AI.

Academic and Early Professional Pursuits

Kaili attended the , where she studied architecture and civil engineering, earning a around 2004. During her undergraduate years, she engaged in and served as president of the School of Architecture Students' Association in 2001. She later pursued advanced studies, obtaining a in international and from the in 2008. Prior to entering , Kaili worked as a and for Greece's , a major television network, for approximately three years starting in the mid-2000s. This role provided her with national visibility through on-air reporting and commentary. Her early media experience, combined with her technical and policy-oriented , positioned her for subsequent involvement in public affairs, though it drew limited independent scrutiny at the time regarding professional qualifications or output quality.

Greek Political Career

Entry into PASOK and Initial Roles

Eva Kaili joined the youth wing of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement () in 1992 at the age of 14. Her early involvement included , such as serving as president of her high school's . In 2002, Kaili was elected as the youngest member of the Municipal Council at age 24, representing . This marked her initial elected role within the party, focusing on local issues in her native amid her concurrent studies in architecture and civil engineering. She ran as a candidate in the 2004 Greek legislative elections for the constituency, topping the party's preference vote list but failing to secure a parliamentary seat due to the allocation of seats based on overall party performance.

Service in the Hellenic Parliament

Kaili was elected to the on September 16, 2007, in the Greek legislative election as a member representing the A constituency, securing one of the 300 seats with PASOK obtaining 41.6% of the vote and 102 seats overall. At age 29, she was the youngest PASOK parliamentarian at the time. Her candidacy notably displaced veteran PASOK figure Akis Tsochatzopoulos from a preferential position on the party list in Thessaloniki. She was re-elected on October 4, 2009, following early elections triggered by political instability, with winning 43.9% of the vote and 160 seats, forming a under . Kaili's parliamentary service ended in 2012, after which she shifted focus to European-level politics, running successfully for the in 2014. During her tenure, Kaili served on the Standing Committee on Cultural and Educational Affairs, addressing issues in media, arts, and schooling policy, and the Standing Committee on National Defence and , contributing to deliberations on security and . She also represented in interparliamentary assemblies, engaging in discussions. Her legislative involvement aligned with PASOK's center-left platform amid 's emerging , though specific bills she sponsored or co-authored remain limited in beyond committee participation.

Internal Party Dynamics and Positions

Eva Kaili entered PASOK's parliamentary ranks in 2007 as the party's youngest member of the at age 28, representing A after the legislative elections on September 16, 2007. She secured re-election in the October 4, 2009, elections, maintaining her status as PASOK's youngest MP amid the party's governance under Prime Minister . Initially viewed as a modernizing force and rising star within the socialist party, Kaili was appointed of in 2010, contributing to PASOK's efforts during the early phases of Greece's sovereign debt crisis. By 2012, amid PASOK's implementation of austerity measures tied to the , Kaili emerged as a rebel figure, publicly opposing the party's official line on fiscal reforms and distancing herself from Papandreou's leadership. She aligned with a rival faction led by , who challenged Papandreou internally and sought greater party influence. This factional tension manifested in her inability to claim a parliamentary seat after topping PASOK's list in the , 2012, elections, as Venizelos prioritized his own representation from the district, prompting near-confrontation. In July 2012, following PASOK's formation of a new political secretariat under Venizelos's interim leadership, Kaili declined an offered position, stating her engagement prioritized societal dignity over party roles and opting to maintain an independent political office in without active party involvement. These dynamics reflected broader PASOK fractures during the , where Kaili's dissent highlighted generational and ideological tensions between reformist proponents and critics favoring alternative fiscal paths, though her stances did not derail her subsequent nomination for the 2014 European Parliament elections on the ticket. Her intra-party independence foreshadowed later incompatibilities, as evidenced by 's 2022 expulsion citing long-term value divergences, but during her national tenure, it positioned her as a vocal, non-conformist voice amid the party's electoral decline from 43.9% in 2009 to 12.3% in 2012.

European Parliament Involvement

Election and Committee Assignments

Eva Kaili was elected as a (MEP) for in the election held on 25 May 2014, representing the Panhellenic Socialist Movement () and affiliating with the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). Her term began on 1 July 2014. In the 8th parliamentary term (2014–2019), Kaili served as a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) from 1 July 2014 to 18 January 2017 and subsequently from 19 January 2017 to 1 July 2019; she was also a member of the Committee on Petitions from 1 July 2014 to 14 December 2014. As a substitute, she participated in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) throughout the term, from 8 July 2014 to 1 July 2019 with a brief adjustment in 2017. Additionally, she held substitute roles in the Subcommittee on Security and Defence and various delegations, including those for relations with the and EU-Russia cooperation. Kaili was re-elected to the on 26 May 2019 for the 9th parliamentary term (2019–2024), continuing her affiliation with S&D until December 2022. During this period, she remained a member of the ITRE Committee from 2 July 2019 to 19 January 2022, resuming from 20 January 2022 to 8 December 2022 and later from 13 September 2023 to 15 July 2024 following a suspension. She served as a substitute in the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) and ECON, with assignments in ECON from 10 February 2020 onward, subject to similar term adjustments. Kaili also substituted in the Special Committee on from 14 September 2020 to 23 March 2022.

Rise to Vice-Presidency

Eva Kaili entered the following her election in May 2014 as a representative of the , aligned with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) political group. Her initial assignments included work on committees addressing industry, , and , where she advocated for digital innovation and technological advancement within the EU framework. In 2017, Kaili was appointed chair of the European Parliament's Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), becoming the first woman to hold the position; STOA advises on the ethical, societal, and policy implications of emerging scientific and technological developments. This role elevated her visibility among MEPs, particularly in areas like , , and EU competitiveness in global tech races, through reports and workshops that influenced parliamentary debates. Kaili secured re-election to the in the 2019 European elections, continuing her S&D affiliation and STOA leadership amid the ninth legislative term. By 2021, her accumulation of expertise and alliances within the S&D group—then the second-largest bloc with 153 members—positioned her for higher office, as group leaders nominate candidates for vice-presidential roles to balance representation across political families and member states. On January 18, 2022, during a , Kaili was elected as one of the European Parliament's 14 vice-presidents via a series of secret ballots, where candidates require an absolute majority; she secured the position in alignment with S&D quotas, reflecting her prior parliamentary contributions and the group's strategy to secure influential posts. The vice-presidency entailed presiding over sessions, representing the institution externally, and overseeing specific dossiers, marking the peak of her ascent from national to supranational leadership within eight years.

Policy Advocacy and Legislative Focus

Eva Kaili directed her legislative efforts in the toward advancing digital innovation, regulation, and research funding. As a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) from 2 July 2019 to 8 December 2022 and again from 13 September 2023 to 15 July 2024, she engaged in debates on , technological competitiveness, and energy innovation. She also participated as a substitute in the Committee on Budgets during overlapping periods, influencing allocations for EU-wide innovation initiatives. Upon her election as on 18 January 2022—a position she held until 13 December 2022—Kaili assumed oversight of the Parliament's ICT innovation strategy, and policies, and efforts, while chairing the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (). In this capacity, she prioritized fostering trustworthy AI through the establishment of the Parliament's Centre for (C4AI), aimed at promoting transparency and public confidence in . Kaili advocated for robust EU leadership in digital transformation, urging accelerated 5G rollout and proactive 6G development to underpin economic connectivity and sectoral innovation. She emphasized startups' potential in post-crisis recovery via fintech and digital tools, while cautioning that overly restrictive GDPR provisions could impede AI progress, and pushed for balanced ethical frameworks to enable EU competitiveness in AI governance. Her specific legislative contributions included serving as shadow rapporteur for the InvestEU Programme report on 2 October 2020, which sought to leverage €650 billion in investments for sustainable projects including digital infrastructure, and for the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport on 28 June 2022, aligning with broader green tech transitions. Kaili also supported blockchain integration in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies to enhance transparency in tech-driven finance.

Origins of the Qatargate Investigation

The Qatargate investigation originated as a Belgian federal probe into an alleged criminal organization suspected of corrupting Members of the (MEPs) through , , and influence peddling on behalf of to secure favorable policy outcomes, particularly regarding ahead of the . The inquiry, coordinated by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office and involving the Federal Police, began as early as March 2021, drawing on intelligence shared from Italian authorities investigating by Italian nationals linked to EU parliamentary activities. This cross-border cooperation highlighted suspicions of a network channeling illicit funds from Qatari entities to MEPs and their associates, including through non-governmental organizations like Fight , founded by former MEP Pier in 2019 as a purported entity but later implicated as a conduit for influence operations. Initial triggers included tips from a trusted European intelligence service alerting Belgian investigators to two Italian suspects under scrutiny in for financial irregularities tied to third-country , which expanded to encompass Qatar's efforts to soften criticism of its record. By July 2022, the probe had formalized around evidence of organized corruption targeting parliamentary committees on development and , where suspects allegedly traded cash payments—often in suitcases—for resolutions praising Qatar's reforms or blocking condemnations. Belgian judicial authorities, under investigating Michel Claise, amassed preliminary evidence from financial tracking and informant leads, avoiding public disclosure to prevent interference, though leaks later complicated the process. The investigation's operational phase escalated with coordinated raids on December 9, 2022, across 19 addresses in , involving over 1,500 police officers and targeting key figures including Eva Kaili, then an MEP and . During the search of Kaili's residence, authorities seized approximately €600,000 in cash stuffed into suitcases, with additional recoveries totaling €1.5 million from various sites, providing tangible evidence of the laundering scheme. Kaili's partner, Francesco Giorgi, and Panzeri—whose confession post-arrest implicated a broader circle—were among the initial detainees, confirming the network's reliance on intermediaries to distribute funds discreetly. Qatar's government denied any official involvement, attributing payments to private actors, though prosecutors alleged ties to state-linked figures like Labor Minister Ali bin Samikh al-Merei. This discovery phase exposed systemic vulnerabilities in EU lobbying oversight, prompting the (EPPO) to assume partial jurisdiction amid concerns over Belgian handling.

Arrest, Charges, and Immediate Aftermath

Eva Kaili was arrested on December 9, 2022, by Belgian federal police in as part of raids targeting suspected , , and membership in a criminal organization linked to influence peddling on behalf of ahead of the . The operation uncovered over €1.5 million in cash across multiple locations, including suitcases carried by her partner Francesco Giorgi and approximately €150,000 in Kaili's apartment. Belgian authorities, in coordination with the , detained Kaili, Giorgi, former MEP , and others, alleging they formed a network to accept bribes for promoting 's interests in decisions. Kaili faced formal charges of participating in a criminal organization, , and , with prosecutors claiming the scheme involved payments to influence EU policy on issues like in . She was held in following the arrest, during which her was targeted for waiver by investigators citing evidence of direct involvement. Kaili denied the allegations, asserting the cash did not belong to her and rejecting any claims. In response, President suspended Kaili from her vice-presidential duties on December 11, 2022, citing the gravity of the . The Socialists & Democrats group, her political affiliation, expelled her the next day, emphasizing zero tolerance for . These actions triggered broader scrutiny of practices in the , though denied any involvement in the scandal. Separate from the Qatargate probe, Eva Kaili faced allegations of defrauding the European Union budget through irregularities in payments to her parliamentary assistants. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigated suspicions of a kickback scheme, where assistants allegedly returned portions of their EU-funded salaries to Kaili, potentially involving amounts between €120,000 and €150,000. The inquiry, which predated the December 2022 Qatargate arrests, centered on fraudulent misuse of public funds designated for accredited assistants' remuneration and activities. Greek judicial authorities requested the lifting of Kaili's to pursue criminal charges, citing evidence of systematic overpayments and fictitious work claims. On February 6, 2024, the approved the waiver of her immunity by a vote of 558 in favor, 6 against, and 33 abstentions, enabling Greek prosecutors to proceed. Kaili has consistently denied wrongdoing, asserting that all assistant contracts and payments complied with parliamentary rules and that the allegations stem from administrative disputes rather than criminal intent. In July 2025, the EU General Court ruled in Kaili's favor on a related transparency dispute, annulling the 's refusal to grant her access to documents concerning MEP assistant allowances, citing procedural errors in the denial. The appealed the decision in October 2025, arguing broader institutional interests in document protection. As of October 2025, the budget fraud case remains under Greek , with no final conviction reported.

Ongoing Trials, Defenses, and Judicial Outcomes

Eva Kaili remains under investigation and facing trial in for her alleged role in the Qatargate scandal, with charges including participation in a criminal organization, corruption, and related to influence peddling by ahead of the . The Belgian federal prosecutor's office accuses her of receiving bribes funneled through intermediaries, including former MEP , who confessed and implicated her in exchange for leniency. Kaili was released from on April 13, 2023, to with an electronic ankle bracelet and strict reporting requirements, following a determination that she no longer posed a flight risk but required continued restrictions to prevent evidence tampering. Kaili has consistently denied all allegations, asserting her innocence and portraying the prosecution as politically motivated overreach. Her legal team, including Spyros Pappas, has argued that her detention served as a "trophy" for prosecutors and challenged procedural irregularities, such as the handling of seized during her arrest on December 9, 2022. In October 2025, Kaili filed a against Panzeri for providing "slanderous testimony," seeking to discredit his cooperation with authorities as unreliable. Judicial proceedings have yielded mixed results. In February 2024, the European Parliament voted to lift Kaili's immunity in a separate fraud case, alleging she misappropriated €120,000–€150,000 in public funds for parliamentary assistants between 2016 and 2019. However, on July 9, 2025, the EU General Court annulled the Parliament's refusal to grant her access to related documents, ruling that the denial violated her right to a fair defense by unequal treatment compared to institutional access. The Parliament appealed this decision in October 2025, maintaining that disclosure could prejudice ongoing probes. As of October 2025, no final verdicts have been issued in the core Qatargate trial, with proceedings protracted by evidentiary disputes and co-defendant testimonies.

Broader Controversies and Criticisms

Cryptocurrency and External Business Ties

Eva Kaili maintained several external business connections outside her role in the , including advisory roles for Greek media and pharmaceutical firms prior to her 2014 election as a (MEP). These activities involved consulting on communications and policy matters, though specific client details and compensation remain undisclosed in . Critics have questioned potential conflicts of interest arising from such engagements, particularly given her subsequent influence on EU legislation affecting those industries. In 2022, shortly before her arrest in the Qatargate investigation, Kaili co-founded the Council for and Global Development, a entity focused on including and digital innovation. The council was established with her former parliamentary assistant Dimitrios Psarrakis, who described himself as the primary initiator, and a , aiming to bridge EU policymakers with tech sector stakeholders. This venture operated alongside her vice-presidential duties, prompting scrutiny over whether it blurred lines between official advocacy and personal business interests, especially as it targeted areas like technological policy where Kaili held legislative sway. Kaili also faced allegations of promoting her sister Maria Kaili's technology firms within parliamentary forums. In , she initiated an international advisory board for the European Parliament's Scientific Technology Options Assessment () panel, which aligned with her sister's companies specializing in software and digital services. Parliamentary records indicate Kaili referenced or supported initiatives that could benefit such entities, raising concerns about and in EU tech policy discussions. Regarding cryptocurrency, Kaili emerged as a prominent advocate in the European Parliament, leading reports on digital finance frameworks such as the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation and engaging in debates on NFTs and blockchain applications. Her positions favored innovation-friendly policies, positioning her as an ally to the crypto industry, which dubbed her a key "cheerleader" in Brussels. However, no verified evidence links her personal financial involvement in cryptocurrencies, such as holdings or transactions, to the Qatargate probes, which centered on cash-based influence peddling rather than digital assets. Detractors, including industry observers, noted that her arrest disrupted pro-crypto momentum in the Parliament, though investigations have not substantiated claims of crypto-specific corruption. Eva Kaili faced accusations of influence peddling as part of the Qatargate investigation, where Belgian prosecutors alleged that she participated in a criminal network receiving bribes from to sway decisions in the Gulf state's favor, particularly regarding scrutiny tied to the hosting. The charges against her included , , and membership in a criminal organization, with influence peddling centered on claims that funds funneled through intermediaries like former MEP Pier were used to lobby for softened EU positions on 's labor practices and political influence in the region. Prosecutors linked directly to the scheme, asserting that over €1.5 million in cash—much of it seized from Kaili's apartment on December 9, 2022—was derived from Qatari sources intended to buy favorable parliamentary reports and resolutions. Panzeri, who confessed and cooperated with authorities, claimed the network, including Kaili and her partner Francesco Giorgi, received payments from 's former prime minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani to peddle influence, though Belgian investigators emphasized the bribes aimed at broader EU policy leniency rather than specific votes. Kaili's prior public advocacy for , including defenses against World Cup-related criticisms, fueled suspicions that her positions aligned with paid influence, despite her role as a overseeing parliamentary . Kaili has denied all allegations, asserting through her lawyer that her pro-Qatar stances were legitimate diplomatic duties as an MEP and not tied to illicit payments, while challenging Panzeri's as unreliable. In October 2025, she filed a against Panzeri for calumny, alleging his statements falsely implicated her in the Qatar-linked to secure leniency in his own plea deal. The case remains unresolved, with Kaili released from in 2023 but under judicial restrictions, and the continuing to probe the connections amid criticisms of slow progress in proving direct causation between funds and specific influence outcomes.

Impact on EU Institutions and Political Reforms

The Qatargate scandal, centered on allegations of bribery and influence peddling involving Vice-President Eva Kaili, exposed systemic deficiencies in the institution's oversight of , side activities, and foreign interference, eroding public confidence in the European Union's democratic processes. Investigations revealed over €1.5 million in cash linked to Qatari interests, prompting widespread scrutiny of the Parliament's self-regulatory framework, which lacked independent and relied on voluntary compliance for declarations of interests and . This breach at the highest levels, including Kaili's arrest on December 9, 2022, amplified calls for structural changes, as it demonstrated how unchecked interactions with third countries could undermine legislative integrity. In immediate response, President unveiled a 14-point reform agenda on December 15, 2022, targeting enhanced transparency, such as mandatory asset declarations for members of parliament (MEPs), stricter cooling-off periods for former MEPs, and prohibitions on paid side jobs creating conflicts of interest. By September 2023, the Parliament adopted revised internal rules incorporating elements of this plan, including bolstered advisory committees on and expanded whistleblower protections, alongside requirements for MEPs to report third-country meetings. These measures aimed to close gaps highlighted by Qatargate, such as the absence of sanctions for late declarations—67% of post-scandal travel reports were submitted tardily without penalties. Despite these steps, has been criticized as superficial and incomplete, with no establishment of an independent EU-wide body to replace self-policing, a proposal stalled by resistance from the , which favored a weaker advisory mechanism. Key pledges, including bans on parliamentary friendship groups susceptible to foreign and robust sanctions, remain unfulfilled, while thresholds for disclosing side income were actually raised to €5,000 annually, potentially diluting oversight. Non-governmental organizations and transparency advocates, such as Transparency International EU, have highlighted persistent vulnerabilities, noting that political groups failed to tighten internal rules and that covert persists outside mandatory registers. Quasi-experimental analyses indicate a measurable decline in public trust toward the following the , with causal links to reduced voter attentiveness in EU elections. Broader institutional repercussions extended to interinstitutional dynamics, as the Council of the largely deferred responsibility to the , avoiding unified reforms, while the scandal reframed discussions on foreign interference ahead of the 2024 European elections. Although Qatargate elevated corruption prevention on the agenda—prompting resolutions denouncing external meddling—it represented a missed opportunity for causal overhauls, such as legally binding enforcement across institutions, perpetuating a culture of lax . Kaili's prominent role intensified demands for high-level , yet the absence of deterrent mechanisms suggests limited long-term deterrence against similar influence operations.

Personal Life and Public Persona

Relationships and Private Affairs

Eva Kaili was in a long-term domestic partnership with Francesco Giorgi, an Italian national who served as a parliamentary assistant in the European Parliament. The couple resided together in Brussels and welcomed a daughter in February 2021. Giorgi, the child's father, became a central figure in the Qatargate investigation alongside Kaili, confessing to his involvement in corruption and influence peddling on behalf of Qatar and Morocco in December 2022. Following Kaili's on December 9, 2022, her access to the then-22-month-old daughter was severely restricted due to her detention in near ; she first saw the child in person on January 6, 2023, when the was brought to the facility by Kaili's , Alexandros Kailis. The separation drew attention to the challenges faced by incarcerated mothers, with Kaili publicly criticizing Belgian authorities for what she described as inhumane treatment regarding visitation . By June 2023, Kaili and Giorgi had ended their relationship, as confirmed by statements from Kaili's legal representatives amid ongoing legal proceedings. No prior or subsequent romantic partnerships have been publicly documented, and Kaili's private life prior to her association with Giorgi remains largely undisclosed in available records.

Media Presence and Lifestyle Scrutiny

Eva Kaili began her professional career in media as a television news presenter for Greece's MEGA Channel, anchoring the weekend noon news bulletin from 2004 to 2007, during which it achieved viewership ratings of 27-30 percent. Despite lacking formal journalism experience, her on-air role contributed to her public visibility, though it drew criticism for perceived deficiencies in delivery and depth. Transitioning to politics in 2009 as a PASOK member of the Hellenic Parliament, she maintained a media-savvy persona, leveraging social media platforms like Instagram to project an image centered on technology, AI, and innovation advocacy. As a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 and vice-president from 2022 until her suspension, Kaili engaged in high-profile events, including debates on EU corruption and meetings with foreign officials, such as her November 2022 trip to Qatar documented on social media. Kaili's public image emphasized charisma and ambition, positioning her as one of the more influential and popular MEPs, particularly in science, technology, and digital policy committees. However, following her December 9, 2022, arrest in the Qatargate investigation, her media interactions faced restrictions; Belgian authorities warned that discussing the case with journalists could result in her return to detention, limiting her ability to shape narratives post-scandal. Scrutiny of Kaili's lifestyle intensified amid allegations of unexplained wealth, as Belgian police seized approximately €1.5 million in cash from her apartment and related locations during raids on December 9, 2022, alongside computers and phones suggesting . Reports highlighted her residence in a apartment renting for €7,000 per month, frequent patronage of luxury venues, and preference for , elements incongruent with an MEP's standard salary and allowances of roughly €10,000 monthly net plus expenses. Greek authorities subsequently froze family assets in December 2022, amplifying questions about funding sources for her opulent pre-arrest , including glamorous social appearances in places like . Kaili has denied wrongdoing, attributing cash to legitimate origins via her , though investigations persist into potential ties.

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