The Italian MEP accused of the corrupt plot denies the accusations and rules out invoking his immunity

BRUSSELS, 4 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino, pointed out in the investigations opened in Belgium for the alleged bribery scheme in Qatar, has denied the accusations and, through his lawyers, has clarified that he does not intend to invoke at any time the immunity to which he is entitled and that is precisely now in question.

The lawyers have assured in a statement that Cozzolino, a socialist, is "totally oblivious" to the facts that are imputed to him and has offered to clarify all doubts with the European Parliament. Thus, he "will ask the parliamentary assembly to which he belongs to be heard", reports the AdnKronos agency.

The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, ordered on Monday the "urgent" opening of a procedure to lift the immunity of two MEPs at the request of the Belgian judicial authorities. "There will be no impunity," Metsola declared.

The regulations stipulate that the Presidency must announce the request for the end of the appraisal in a plenary session, a procedure that Metsola plans to carry out on the first available date, next January 16. The request then falls to the Legal Affairs Commission, which is responsible for appointing a rapporteur and examining the measure in detail.

This committee will study and vote on a report and its recommendations will then go to the plenary session of the European Parliament, which must approve or reject the petition initially raised by Metsola. The president has asked to expedite all these processes so that they can be concluded on February 13.