Law and Justice MEPs Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik submitted a priority inquiry to the European Commission regarding serious allegations made by the Belgian public prosecutor’s office against the former EU Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, as well as reports of his ties to a close associate of Putin who is subject to sanctions.
As the authors of the inquiry note, media reports indicate that in December 2024, Belgian authorities searched the former commissioner’s home in connection with suspicions of money laundering involving proceeds from the sale of works of art and antiques. After several months of investigation, Reynders was formally charged. In a separate proceeding, his ties to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska—a close associate of Vladimir Putin who is subject to sanctions imposed by, among others, the European Union, the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.
MEPs Kamiński and Wąsik point out that Reynders and Deripaska were reportedly linked through an arts foundation operating in the prestigious Uccle district of Brussels, where Reynders lives and the Russian owns numerous properties. The foundation is headed by one of Reynders’ advisors from his time as commissioner. According to reports in the Belgian media, the foundation may have been funded by individuals linked to Russian disinformation campaigns.
In a question to the European Commission, MEPs Kamiński and Wąsik expressed their expectation that the Commission would provide clarification regarding former Commissioner Reynders’s possible ties to Oleg Deripaska, which — according to a report by the Belgian Anti-Money Laundering Office (CTIF) — were already known as early as 2014. The MEPs also want to know whether the Commission was aware that a foundation linked to Reynders may have been funded by individuals involved in Russian disinformation campaigns.
In addition, the lawmakers asked whether the Commission intends to conduct an audit of Didier Reynders’ decisions and actions, including those concerning Poland. “Poland, which remains the main obstacle to Russia’s imperial ambitions and which, during Reynders’ tenure as commissioner, was the target of unjustified attacks on his part,” — the MEPs noted, adding that the purpose of such an audit would be to determine whether the former commissioner’s actions may have been inspired by Moscow.
