Qatargate: EU Commission dismisses former Estonian DG Hololei

Brussels, Jan. 29 (LaPresse) – The European Commission has decided to terminate its contract with the former Director-General for Mobility and Transport, Estonian official Henrik Hololei, who was implicated in the Qatargate scandal. This was reported by LaPresse EU sources. The European Commission has concluded disciplinary proceedings against a senior official, announced European Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen in today’s read-out of the College of Commissioners. “The College has decided on appropriate and proportionate measures to be applied to this senior official. The Commission does not comment further on individual staff members.” The official was implicated in the so-called Qatargate scandal for accepting luxury travel and gifts from Qatar Airways during negotiations on a major aviation agreement, raising serious concerns about conflict of interest while the EU leadership he chaired was negotiating with the wealthy Gulf state. In 2024, following a report by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Commission launched an internal investigation into the official. At the same time, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) also launched a criminal investigation.