The request to lift Labour MEP Daniel Attard's parliamentary immunity, alongside four other MEPs reportedly involved in a situation set to be investigated by Belgian prosecutors, was announced on Wednesday in the European Parliament.

Attard has been named in an investigation conducted by Belgian police over a meeting which took place between the MEP and a Huawei lobbyist during a football match.

EP President Roberta Metsola stated that Belgian authorities had requested that the immunity of the five MEPs in question be lifted. Attard had written to Metsola requesting that his immunity be waived, adding that he would be willing to cooperate with investigators. He rejects any implication of wrongdoing.

The other four MEPs aside from Attard reportedly forming part of this investigation are Salvatore De Meo, Giusi Princi, and Fulvio Martuscellio, all from Italy, as well as Nikola Minchev from Bulgaria.

Attard has said that he was not made aware that his invitation to the football match where he was seen with a Huawei lobbyist had originated from any company. A subsequent meeting had taken place in Strasbourg, and Attard has stated that he has not been in contact with the company since and that he has not taken any action on the matter.

The requests for the lifting of parliamentary immunity are to be handled by the European Parliament on Legal Affairs. As part of the proceedings, this committee will prepare a report which recommends whether or not to approve the requests, with each of the five relevant MEPs being given the opportunity to speak or present evidence for consideration.

Following this, a European Parliament plenary will vote on the final decision whether to lift the MEPs' immunity or not.