Belgian police raid EU Commission offices over €900 million property sale

Belgian federal police conducted raids at European Commission offices in Brussels, including the budget department, as part of an investigation into the sale of 23 EU buildings. The probe, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), focuses on a €900 million transaction involving Belgium’s state investment fund, SFPIM, which took place in 2024. The sale occurred during the tenure of Johannes Hahn, who served as Commissioner for Budget and Administration until 2024 and currently acts as the EU special envoy for Cyprus. Authorities are examining potential irregularities related to the competitive tender process used for these real estate assets. EPPO spokesperson Tine Hollevoet confirmed that evidence-gathering activities are ongoing but declined to provide further details to protect the investigation. At the time of the sale, the European Commission maintained that the process complied fully with EU financial regulations. Johannes Hahn, who served in various Commissioner roles for 14 years under three different presidents, has not yet commented on the raids. The EU anti-fraud office (OLAF) and Belgian federal police have also declined to provide additional statements regarding the procedure.