Belgium's Failed I-Police Project Investigation: Latest Update & Timeline (Jan 2026)

Controversy intensified as questions arose regarding former Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden's prior legal work for Sopra Steria, leading to calls from opposition parties for a full independent audit.

The Brussels public prosecutor's office launched an official investigation into the i-Police project to determine if there was any embezzlement of public money or conflicts of interest.

The House committee for domestic affairs announced that it would hold hearings to investigate the failure of the i-Police project, with former Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden expected to be among the invitees.

During a debate in the Chamber, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin publicly confirmed that €75.8 million had been paid to Sopra Steria for the failed i-Police project.

Interior Minister Bernard Quintin formally terminated the €299 million i-Police contract, citing a complete absence of tangible results despite years of investment.

Sopra Steria Group was issued a formal notice of default by the Belgian government and instructed to suspend all activities related to the i-Police project.

Confidential reports from the federal police, later uncovered by Belgian newspapers, exposed significant mismanagement of funds and a lack of tangible results from Sopra Steria's work on the project.

Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden commissioned an audit from Deloitte into the i-Police project after concerns arose regarding its lack of progress and operational delivery.

The contract for the i-Police project, with a total budget of €299 million, was officially awarded to Sopra Steria by the Belgian government under Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden.

Annelies Verlinden, who would later become the Federal Interior Minister, worked as a lawyer for the French IT firm Sopra Steria, a detail that would later become central to conflict of interest allegations.

Then Interior Minister Jan Jambon announced the launch of a public tender for the ambitious i-Police project.

The Michel I Government officially announced the 'I-Police' project, aiming to modernize and integrate the IT systems of the Belgian police forces following the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Brussels.