Belgian police have carried out searches at offices linked to the European Commission and Belgium’s sovereign wealth fund as part of a criminal investigation into possible irregularities surrounding a major real estate transaction, authorities said on Thursday.
The inquiry focuses on the 2024 sale of 23 European Commission buildings to the Belgian state. According to the Commission, the properties were sold under established internal procedures. However, the investigation seeks to determine whether any fraud or misconduct occurred during the process.
The British newspaper Financial Times first reported the investigation, citing sources who said the buildings were acquired by Belgium’s sovereign wealth fund for about 900 million euros. The fund involved in the transaction is SFPIM.
In a statement, the European Commission said the sale had followed proper protocols and expressed confidence that the process complied with applicable rules. Both the Commission and SFPIM said they were cooperating fully with investigators.
The case is being handled by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, commonly known as EPPO. The office declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Belgian police did not comment on the raids, and the Belgian prosecutor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.
The searches mark a rare instance of law enforcement action involving EU institutions in Brussels, though authorities have not indicated whether any charges have been filed or whether specific individuals are under suspicion.