The RBC publication, citing the Financial Times, specifies that the searches were carried out in various premises, including the budget department.
The FT sources specified that the investigation concerns the sale of real estate in the EU, which took place when Johannes Hahn was budget commissioner at the previous European Commission.
UPDATE 12.02.2026 16:52
The Financial Times has learned that the searches are being conducted by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). They concern 23 buildings acquired by the Belgian sovereign wealth fund SFPIM for €900 million in 2024.
Johannes Hahn served as European Commissioner for the Budget in the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen. He served in this capacity from December 1, 2019, until the end of the Commission’s term in 2024. After leaving his post, he was appointed EU Special Envoy for Cyprus.
“EPPO confirms that it is conducting evidence-gathering activities as part of the ongoing investigation,” EPPO spokesperson Tine Hollevoet told the FT, declining to provide further details.
As reported by RBK, the European Commission entered into an agreement with the Belgian sovereign wealth fund SFPIM to sell 23 office buildings in the so-called European Quarter of Brussels in April 2024. The deal was part of the EC’s plan to reduce office space by 25% by 2030.
Following the EC’s 2023 decision to sell the 23 buildings, a tender was announced, which was held in two stages, as required by internal regulations. SFPIM emerged victorious.
