European Public Prosecutor investigates alleged misappropriation of funds by former ID faction in European Parliament
The European Public Prosecutor has conducted searches in several EU countries. The investigation concerns suspicions of misappropriation of European funds by the former Identity and Democracy faction in the European Parliament.
European Public Prosecutor investigates alleged misappropriation of funds by former ID faction in European Parliament
The European Public Prosecutor has carried out investigative measures in several European countries. The case concerns the suspicion that a former faction of the European Parliament illegally used funds from the European Union during the previous legislative term.
Jordan Bardella, head of the French far-right party Rassemblement National, confirmed on the X platform that searches had taken place in offices and private residences of communication service providers who had collaborated with his party. He insisted that they had nothing to answer for.
A spokeswoman for the European Public Prosecutor stated that the authority was investigating the use of European funds by a former faction during the period 2019–2024. She neither named the faction in question nor the countries where the measures had been taken. However, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that it was the former Identity and Democracy faction and that searches had taken place in France, Belgium, Italy and Spain.
The far-right faction, which existed between 2019 and 2024, included, besides the French Rassemblement National, notably the Austrian FPÖ, the German AfD and the Italian Lega.
Controllers from the parliamentary administration concluded that members of the ID faction had misappropriated at least 4.3 million euros of EU funds during the previous legislative term. According to their report, these funds were allegedly paid to companies close to the faction and to associations supporting opponents of abortion.
The European Public Prosecutor has competence for investigation, prosecution and the exercise of public action in respect of offences prejudicing the financial interests of the EU.
Source: ORF.at
Source: ORF