Dimitris Avramopoulos: Arrest warrant file sent to justice ministry
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The file concerning the arrest warrant issued for Dimitris Avramopoulos has now reached Greece’s Ministry of Justice and is expected to be forwarded to the Hellenic Parliament in the coming hours.
- 23 Ιουνίου 2026 11:16
The arrest warrant concerns New Democracy MP Dimitris Avramopoulos, and Parliament is the only competent body authorized to decide whether it should be executed, due to his parliamentary immunity.
More specifically, the request to lift the immunity of the former European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship was transmitted by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) to Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis and is now being forwarded to Parliament. The move would allow the execution of the arrest warrant issued by Belgian judicial authorities in connection with Avramopoulos’ alleged involvement in an NGO linked to Antonio Panzeri.
Avramopoulos has been called upon to provide explanations to Belgian investigators regarding the Qatargate corruption case through the NGO Fight Impunity. He has publicly stated that he will not invoke parliamentary immunity, describing the matter as entirely unfounded and calling for a full judicial investigation.
Rapid Developments
The latest developments mark a significant escalation in the ongoing Qatargate investigation, the bribery scandal involving alleged efforts by Qatar to influence European officials. The case severely damaged the credibility of European institutions and prompted calls for stricter transparency, lobbying oversight, and ethics regulations.
According to developments that emerged on Monday afternoon (June 22), Belgian prosecutors are investigating the former European Commissioner and current New Democracy lawmaker.
A European arrest warrant has reportedly already been issued, and Greek judicial authorities have been informed. However, no action has yet been taken, as the lifting of Avramopoulos’ parliamentary immunity by the Greek Parliament is required under the Constitution.
Avramopoulos appears to have been informed of the development, as he visited the Athens Court of Appeal Prosecutor’s Office on Monday accompanied by his lawyer in order to be briefed on the case.
It should be noted that he has previously maintained that all actions under scrutiny by Belgian authorities were lawful.
What Belgian Authorities Are Investigating
According to reports, the former Commissioner is suspected of participation in a criminal organization, with investigators examining an alleged financial benefit totaling approximately €73,000.
At the center of the investigation is his cooperation with an NGO founded by Antonio Panzeri, the central figure in the Qatargate scandal. Following his departure from the European Commission, Avramopoulos provided services to the NGO and received a monthly remuneration of €5,000. The total amount paid to him is reportedly being examined by investigators as the basis for the alleged financial benefit under investigation.
