The EU says it will launch proceedings to remove parliamentary immunity from two MEPs implicated in an ongoing corruption scandal, APA reports citing BBC.
Parliamentary President Roberta Metsola said she had taken the move after a request from Belgian police.
But her statement did not name the MEPs involved.
The scandal erupted last month after one MEP and three others were arrested on charges of corruption and money-laundering.
While authorities have not named the country behind the bribery network, numerous EU sources have accused Qatar of running the operation.
But the Gulf state has strenuously denied any claims of misconduct as unfair and "gravely misinformed".
Ms Metsola - who has previously said the scandal showed that "open, free, democratic societies are under attack" - said she would now launch an "urgent procedure" to remove parliamentary immunity from the two MEPs following the police request.
An EU source told the BBC that officers had made contact with her office on 30 December.
The request must now be filed before the entire EU parliament on 16 January, before advancing to the body's legal affairs committee. A report on the allegations will then be prepared, before a vote in the full chamber on removing the MEPs' immunity.
Ms Metsola said she wanted the entire process completed by 13 February.
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