At the initiative of PiS MEPs Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, 29 MEPs from five political groups sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the investigation into money laundering by former Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders. In the letter, the politicians demand the establishment of a special committee to review the former Justice Commissioner’s official activities and the documents he produced, as well as a report from the Commission President on the measures she has taken within the institution in connection with this investigation.
"In recent days, European Union citizens have been shocked by press reports regarding legal proceedings initiated by the Belgian police, specifically searches of properties belonging to the former European Commission Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders. He is suspected of money laundering for over a decade through a scheme involving speculation on the outcomes of the national lottery.
At the same time, he held one of the highest positions in the European Commission, being responsible for assessing the state of the rule of law throughout the European Union as well as in individual member states, and during his tenure he initiated a series of often controversial measures in this regard.
Didier Reynders frequently participated in the work of various European Parliament committees, presenting, among other things, reports on the rule of law and periodic reports on their implementation. Commissioner Reynders, on behalf of the European Commission, formulated recommendations addressed to institutions and member states.
Information about the money laundering investigation involving Didier Reynders, which has been ongoing since 2023, casts a long shadow over the integrity of the European Commission, as well as the credibility of the European Parliament, which adopted the opinions and recommendations of the Commissioner for Justice. The authority of the European Union has been undermined, and citizens’ trust in its institutions—including the European Parliament—has been called into question.
Moreover, even before Didier Reynders was appointed, Belgian authorities had accused him of involvement in corrupt practices. This fact alone should serve as a warning sign and heighten the vigilance of the President and the entire College.
In this situation, the European Commission bears a special obligation to act with openness, transparency, and dynamism to clarify all the circumstances of the case, as well as to cooperate with all parties potentially harmed by the actions or omissions of the former European Commissioner for Justice," — reads the letter to the head of the European Commission.
MEPs are demanding the urgent establishment of a special committee to review the official activities and documents produced by the former Commissioner for Justice in order to rule out or confirm the influence of criminal activity on the performance of his official duties.
Furthermore, they demand that the President of the European Commission request the Belgian authorities to provide the necessary data, enabling the identification of actions taken by the former Commissioner for Justice within the European Commission and in relation to Member States that may have been initiated or motivated by his activities, which are the subject of the investigation.
“The European Parliament, as the EU institution with which the former European Commissioner for Justice actively cooperated, deserves a comprehensive explanation from the European Commission,” – say MEPs, who also call on the President of the European Commission to present, during the upcoming EP plenary session in Strasbourg on December 16 – 19 December, provide a comprehensive briefing on the measures she has taken within the institution in connection with the investigation against the former European Commissioner for Justice.
“Let us remember that even before Didier Reynders was appointed commissioner, there were disturbing reports. An investigation was even conducted into allegations of corruption. Reynders’ attacks on Poland, his extreme bias, and his lack of openness to facts and sound arguments may take on a new context. This makes it all the more important to thoroughly investigate this matter and cooperate closely with the Belgian authorities,” said Mariusz Kamiński.
“We call on Ms. Ursula von der Leyen to present detailed information on this corruption scandal to the European Parliament at the next plenary session. Let us remember that Mr. Didier Reynders was one of those European politicians who attacked Poland for alleged violations of media freedom. In the 2023 report on the state of the rule of law in Poland, which Reynders co-authored, the arrest of Pablo Gonzales—a Spanish left-wing journalist, but in reality a Russian spy whom Vladimir Putin personally welcomed at Moscow’s airport—was cited as an example. This individual’s detention was treated as an example of a violation of human rights and media freedom. Therefore, the European Commission should apologize to Poland for Commissioner Reynders’s accusations against the country,” commented Maciej Wąsik.
