[JURIST] Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Italy launched simultaneous raids on Tuesday in a massive anti-corruption investigation involving European public servants. Over 150 police officers took part in over 30 raids of homes, businesses and banking offices, as well as the European Commission and the European Parliament [official websites] in Brussels. The investigation is focused on whether European civil servants and company managers were involved in organised crime, associating with known criminals, violating professional secrets, or engaged in forgery and breaking public procurement laws.

Prosecutors are investigating the conditions under which some European public tenders were awarded and allegations that civil servants took bribes from real estate and security companies in exchange for contracts to rent and secure the Commission buildings. The investigation was launched three years ago and also involves OLAF [official website], the EU's independent anti-fraud office. AFP has more. EUobserver has additional coverage.