Reynders was previously investigated in 2019 on allegations of corruption and money laundering but maintained his innocence and prosecutors dropped the charges. He enjoyed a form of diplomatic immunity during his five-year term as a commissioner. A spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed they were aware of the investigation and said they would collaborate with … Read more
Belgian police searched the residences of Didier Reynders on Tuesday just days after his term as European commissioner for justice ended, according to media reports. Reynders, who served as justice commissioner until just this weekend, was questioned following the search, Le Soir and Follow the Money reported. An Schoonjans, a magistrate at the prosecutor general’s … Read more
BRUSSELS ― Frédéric Bernard, the head of cabinet of former European Council President Charles Michel, is to become Belgian ambassador to the United States, according to two Belgian officials. As chief of staff and sherpa to Michel since 2020, Bernard had a key role in preparing and helping to run European Council meetings ― the … Read more
“The name has not yet been decided, but I can tell you that Belgium will be able to submit a name within the deadline,” Georges-Louis Bouchez, the leader of the Reformist Movement (the French-speaking liberal party that’s likely to pick the commissioner), had said on Thursday. But as August ended, that pick had not been … Read more
The European Commission launched the so-called Article 7 sanctions procedure, which can see a country lose its voting rights in the European Council, in 2017 against Poland under the previous Law and Justice government. The move came after the government introduced reforms which the EU’s top court found violated rule-of-law standards. When Prime Minister Donald … Read more
EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders is hoping to become the next secretary-general of the Council of Europe, the international human rights organization, which would mark a hiatus in his career in EU politics. The news, which was first reported by Belgian media outlets Le Soir and De Tijd, was confirmed to POLITICO by a Belgian official … Read more
European Council President Charles Michel will run as a candidate for the European parliamentary election in June, he told three Belgian media outlets. A spokesperson for Michel confirmed the announcement to POLITICO. Michel plans to take up his seat in the European Parliament mid-July if he’s elected, meaning EU leaders will have to agree quickly … Read more
Former Qatargate judge Michel Claise may run in the Belgian elections, local media La Libre reported on Saturday. Claise, an investigating judge who recused himself in mid-2023 from the European Parliament corruption probe, may join the federal list of Défi, a French-speaking centrist party with two seats in Belgium’s federal parliament. Claise declined to comment when contacted … Read more
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. MADRID — Spain’s latest political turmoil is extending a years-long battle between the two main parties over appointments of top judges. In recent months, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez secured a new term by offering an amnesty deal to Catalan separatists in exchange for political support. … Read more
