The European Commission said on Tuesday that it had approved a request by former European commissioner and current Greek New Democracy lawmaker, Dimitris Avramopoulos, to work for an NGO later linked to a major cash-for-influence investigation involving members of the European Parliament.
“The Commission has learned from press reports that the Belgian authorities have issued a European arrest warrant against former Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos,” a Commission spokesperson told Kathimerini, adding that it cannot comment on the merits of the case as it is an ongoing criminal investigation.
However, the spokesperson did not confirm Avramopoulos’ claim that the part of the investigation that concerned him had “closed” three years ago, following a decision of the European Commission signed by President Ursula von der Leyen.
Asked by Kathimerini to which decision was Avramopoulos referring to, the spokesperson pointed to a letter from February 3, 2021, which approved his paid post-term appointment as a member of the “Honorary Board” of Fight Impunity, and a positive opinion from the Independent Ethical Committee of the European Commission on December 10, 2020.
There was no mention of the case being closed.
