The European Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Alexis Georgoulis.

As a reminder, the General Prosecutor at the Brussels Court of Appeal requested the waiver of the immunity of Alexis Georgoulis, Member of the European Parliament elected in Greece, in connection with criminal offences. The acts allegedly committed by Alexis Georgoulis constitute criminal offences of rape, currently classified as an attack on sexual integrity covered by Article 417/11 of the Belgian Criminal Code, and of intentional assault and battery within the meaning of Article 398 of the Belgian Criminal Code.

Parliament considered that the alleged offences do not constitute an opinion or a vote cast in the performance of the duties of a Member of the European Parliament. Moreover, in the present case, Parliament has not found any evidence establishing the existence of a fumus persecutionis , i.e. factual elements indicating that the investigation in question was initiated with the intention of damaging the political activity of the Member in his capacity as a Member of the European Parliament.

Consequently, following the recommendation of its Legal Affairs Committee, the European Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Alexis Georgoulis.