Huawei is excluded from influential lobby groups in Brussels, and EU officials suspend contacts with the Chinese company, following a corruption investigation.
Huawei is in the middle of a corruption scandal in the European Photo Shutterstock Parliament
The European Association of Digitaleurope Technology Suspended Huawei on Thursday of its activities after Belgian prosecutors opened an investigation into “Active corruption” in the European Parliament, for the benefit of the Chinese technological giant. The powerful industrial group Businesseurope also eliminated Huawei from its list of partner companies.
Other Lobby and Think Tanks groups in the EU, who either have Huawei as a member or have received contributions from the company, are now analyzing possible measures, they told Politico.
The European Parliament and the European Commission have already included Huawei on the Black List last week, banning its lobbyist access to EU offices. Commissioner Commissioners’ offices and Commission’s General Directorates have been trained “To immediately suspend contacts and meetings” with Huawei “Until new orders”.
This is a major blow to Huawei – which are among the biggest lobbying spent in Brussels, according to the EU Transparency Register. The company suffers significant consequences after the Belgian police searched the main lobby office in Brussels, during a larger investigation into corruption, organized crime and money laundering in the European Parliament.
Key groups break ties with Huawei
Digitaleurope is one of the most influential voices in the Technological Lobby in Brussels, bringing together national industrial companies and associations to influence the EU decisions.
The lobby group said in a statement that he is aware of the “serious accusations” against Huawei. “We take very seriously the ethical conduct in business and compliance with the law. As a precautionary measure, Huawei membership has been suspended until new orders.”is shown in the statement.
Businesseurope, a force in the Lobby in Brussels, has members of national commercial associations and represents the interests of industrial giants from all sectors. The organization maintained a list of “Partner companies”of which Huawei was a part. According to Internet Archive, the Chinese company was still listed as a partner on March 1, but had been eliminated until March 18, a few days after the corruption scandal broke out.
Other lobby groups reassess collaboration with Huawei
Huawei is also a member or contributing to several lobby groups, commercial associations and Think Tank, according to the EU transparency register.
These organizations are now watching the investigation carefully and take into account measures.
The European Internet Forum, a non -profit organization led by members of the European Parliament, lists Huawei as a business member. The communication manager, Eusebiu Croitoru, said the organization has scheduled a discussion on April 9 about the investigation and “The possible implications for the membership of Huawei”.
Financial and Ethics Committee of the European Cyber Security Organization (ECSO) VA “Analysis soon the situation and possible measures”.
Think Tank Bruegel said that “It closely monitors the situation”. The Center for Regulation in Europe (Cerre) transmitted to keep the case “Under careful supervision”.
Huawei’s involvement in lobby activities already restricted
Several lobbying groups and think tanks contacted by Politico have said that Huawei involvement in their activities is reduced.
Huawei’s access to sensitive work groups in digitalurope had already been limited to the concerns about the security of the Chinese company in recent years.
Cerre mentioned that Huawei’s contribution to its budget represents “Clear less than 10%”.
The Ecta Telecommunications Lobby Group mentioned that Huawei was paying a reduced member fee and had an involvement “Limited” in the activities of the organization but that “It closely monitors the situation”.
ECSO stressed that Huawei has “Limited rights” as an associate member.
Eurelectric, another lobby group, said Huawei is a “Associate of business”which means that the company is not involved in the elaboration of policies but that it is pursuing “Carefully” the evolution of the scandal.
