Financial TimesFinancial Times

Inside the ‘Qatargate’ graft scandal rocking the EU

By Alice Hancock, Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli, Andy Bounds and Eleni Varvitsioti

29 Jan 2023 · 12 min read

Editor's Note

The FT recounts the rise and fall of Eva Kaili, the Greek MEP at the heart of Qatargate. The scandal has forced the EU to confront uncomfortable truths about how it manages lobbying by foreign powers.

For a member of the European parliament, Eva Kaili lived life more like a movie star.

The Greek politician spent her free time on yachts in the Aegean, glitzy nightclubs in Athens, hanging out at events with supermodels such as Naomi Campbell and spending summer vacations at tycoon Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island Caribbean hideaway.

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content
Or

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.