Josep Borrell calls EU corruption charges ‘very very worrisome’

• Irish minister: EU corruption arrests are “devastating”
• Belgian police seized €600,000 in 16 Brussels raids on Friday.
• Vice President of the EU Eva Kaili may be charged.

Arrests over alleged corruption at the European Parliament are “very, very worrisome”, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said.

And Irish Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney said the charges against four people were “very damaging”.

Vice President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, who is thought to be one of those charged, was detained.

Authorities believe a Gulf nation—reportedly Qatar—tried to sway parliament through monetary or in-kind contributions.

Qatar has refuted any wrongdoing.

In 16 searches conducted in Brussels on Friday, Belgian police confiscated cash totaling roughly €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000). In order to investigate the contents, computers and mobile phones were also taken.

According to prosecutors, two people have been released while four have been charged.

Although no suspects have been publicly identified, Ms. Kaili is believed to be one of those who have been charged.

“They are charged with participation in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption,” the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

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