Eva Kaili served as one of fourteen vice presidents of the European Parliament between January and December 2022. Her political career, spanning from the Thessaloniki City Council to the halls of Brussels and Strasbourg, ended following her 2022 arrest and subsequent charges related to a corruption investigation involving lobbying efforts for Qatar.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1978 in Thessaloniki, Greece, Kaili pursued studies in architecture and civil engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She later attended the University of Piraeus, obtaining a Master of Arts degree in international and European affairs in 2008. Before entering national politics, she worked as a television presenter for the Greek channel MEGA Channel between 2004 and 2007. Her early political engagement began with the PASOK Youth in 1992, leading to her election to the Thessaloniki City Council in 2002.
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Kaili was elected to the Hellenic Parliament in 2007 representing the first district of Thessaloniki. As a member of the PASOK party, she was the youngest legislator in that body at the time of her election. She successfully retained her seat during the 2009 national elections, serving until 2012. Her committee assignments included the Standing Committee on Cultural and Educational Affairs, the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, and the Special Permanent Committee of Greeks Abroad. She also participated in international delegations, including those for NATO and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
Tenure in the European Parliament
Elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2014, Kaili aligned with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group. She chaired the Science and Technology Options Assessment body from 2017 until 2022, becoming the first woman to hold that role. Her parliamentary portfolio focused on innovation strategy, emerging technologies, and digital policy. In 2018, she received an MEP Award for New Technologies. She served on key committees, including Industry, Research and Energy, and Economic and Monetary Affairs, before her career as an MEP concluded in 2024.
Corruption Investigation and Legal Proceedings
In December 2022, Belgian authorities arrested Kaili as part of an investigation into corruption, money laundering, and organized crime. Following the discovery of cash during raids, investigating judge Michel Claise determined the case involved an act of flagrante delicto. She was held in pre-trial detention in Brussels until April 2023, subsequently serving time under house arrest with an electronic monitor until May 2023. Through legal counsel, she denied all charges. A 2026 Court of Appeal ruling confirmed the validity of the investigation procedures.
Fast facts
- Born: 1978, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Occupations: Architect, politician, television presenter, journalist
- Hellenic Parliament term: 2007-2012
- European Parliament term: 2014-2024
- Vice President of the European Parliament: 2022
- Education: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Piraeus, University of Oxford
- Languages: German, Italian, English, Modern Greek
Questions readers ask
Did Eva Kaili run for re-election to the European Parliament in 2024?
No, she announced in February 2024 that she would not seek re-election.
What was the result of the inquiry into the evidence collection against her?
In February 2026, the Court of Appeal ruled that the investigation had been conducted properly.
Achievements
- Educated at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Oxford
- Worked as journalist, politician and architect
