The financial department of the European Parliament concluded last year that the ID group had unlawfully spent millions of euros between 2019 and 2024. The money was allegedly used for irregular donations and contracts awarded to companies closely linked to the group.
Strasbourg
The investigation had already led to searches in several European countries, including France, in June. These included inquiries into business relationships. The new searches took place on Wednesday in the buildings of the European Parliament during a parliamentary session week.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed the actions but declined to provide further details. The searches in Brussels and Strasbourg targeted administrative offices and former ID staff, not the workplaces of Members of the European Parliament.
Campaign funds
Some of the EU subsidies intended for the political activities of the far-right parties are thought to have ended up with organizations supporting anti-abortion campaigns. It is also being investigated whether European procurement rules were violated when awarding contracts to friendly enterprises.
The searches included offices of Belgian Vlaams Belang politician Philip Claeys. He was ID group secretary between 2019 and 2024 and currently holds a similar position with Patriots for Europe, the successor of ID. Claeys has denied allegations of financial irregularities.
ID and Patriots
The ID group was dissolved after the 2024 European elections. Several affiliated parties, including France's Rassemblement National, Austria's FPÖ, and Italy's Lega, continued within Patriots for Europe, now the third group in the European Parliament.
Patriots for Europe emphasizes there is no legal continuity with ID and denies involvement in the investigation. The current group was itself ordered last year to repay 276,967 euros in European subsidies due to irregularities in procurements.
Marine Le Pen
The new fraud case is separate from the earlier conviction of Marine Le Pen for misuse of European funds for parliamentary staff. Her party Rassemblement National plays a significant role within Patriots for Europe. Le Pen remains a prominent presidential candidate for 2027, while her legal status has been subject to procedures.
