According to MEPs, EU authorities should also contribute to clearing up the Epstein scandal.
02/10/2026, 05:3702/10/2026, 05:37
The chairwoman of the Committee for Security and Defense in the European Parliament, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), told the “Handelsblatt”: “European institutions such as Europol and the responsible EU money laundering authorities should immediately and systematically evaluate existing findings and, where necessary, work closely with international partners.” Cross-border networks in particular can only be effectively investigated together.
Following the recent publication of documents on the Epstein case, former European government officials have been targeted by the authorities because of financial ties to the sex offender. Former British economics minister Peter Mandelson is under investigation for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Epstein during the financial crisis. In France, authorities are investigating allegations of possible tax fraud against former culture minister Jack Lang.
Greens: Also follow up on evidence of money laundering
The vice-chairman of the Greens in the EU Parliament, Sergey Lagodinsky, also believes that a European investigation into the scandal is necessary. “Where there is reliable evidence of cross-border crime, money laundering or political influence, this must not remain a purely national issue,” he told the “Handelsblatt”. “If transnational money flows or organized structures are involved, a coordinated evaluation by Europol and the EU money laundering authorities is the right thing to do” – in addition to national investigations and under clear parliamentary control.
Strack-Zimmermann said the Epstein revelations so far “raise serious questions that must not stop at continental and national borders.” If political decision-makers, economic actors or financial flows were influenced by compromise and blackmail, this would be “a security policy problem for Europe too”. If evidence of a targeted foreign influence operation were confirmed, it would be alarming, added the FDP politician. “We know that authoritarian regimes specifically seek out the weak points of individual actors in order to destabilize democracies from within.”
The US multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019, had operated an abuse ring for years, to which dozens of young women and girls fell victim. At the same time, he maintained close contacts with the highest circles in politics, business and science. (sda/dpa)