BRUSSELS ― A confidential report has revealed that the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament mismanaged at least €4.3 million, prompting lawmakers to consider methods to recover the funds. The report, prepared by the Parliament’s finance department, indicates that the ID group, which includes the political factions of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and Alternative for Germany, violated public tender regulations while granting public contracts and issuing irregular donations from 2019 to 2024.
Complications arising from group dissolution
The situation is further complicated by the dissolution of the ID group after the European elections last year, with most members and staff transferring to the newly formed Patriots for Europe group. The Parliament’s budgetary control committee is investigating whether this new entity can be held accountable for the financial discrepancies. Niclas Herbst, chair of the committee, asserted,
“Rebranding or dissolving a political group cannot be used to dodge debts and misuse funds. It is extremely important that we hold accountable those responsible. If money was unduly spent, we want it back.”
Legal challenges and financial scrutiny
In response to inquiries, the Patriots group countered allegations on social media, claiming they are victims of a politically driven “witch hunt” and asserting that they are not the same legal entity as the ID group, which has already settled its financial accounts from prior years. An anonymous official from the Patriots group stated,
“We will fight it in court if necessary. We have very good lawyers, and we are sure we are right.”
The budgetary control committee, comprising members from various political backgrounds, is urging the Parliament to initiate the process of reclaiming the misallocated funds. A letter detailing this request is expected to be approved soon. Additionally, the committee is recommending that the financial responsibilities of individual staff members and MEPs be evaluated for any “intentional or gross-negligent authorization of irregular expenditure.”
The final decision regarding the recovery process will be made by the Parliament’s 14 vice-presidents, known as the Bureau. The EU’s public prosecutor (EPPO) has also confirmed that it is conducting an investigation into the alleged financial mismanagement.
The alleged financial misconduct involves the annual budget allocated to political groups by the Parliament for administrative, operational, and informational activities. The financial audit indicates that the ID group disregarded public tender rules when awarding contracts for advertising and related services, totaling approximately €3,598,803 across Austria, France, and Germany. The report states,
“The tender procedure was conducted as a purely formal exercise, without showing the intent to have a choice of offers to select the best possible provider.”
Moreover, it is suggested that contracts might have been awarded to companies closely tied to the party. For instance, a contract for ads in an Austrian magazine was reportedly given to a firm led by a former MEP from the Austrian FPÖ party, which is affiliated with the ID group and currently represented in the Patriots. The report criticizes this practice, noting that the selection process did not adhere to established rules.
In addition to these irregularities, the ID group allegedly established a system for members to donate to NGOs and charities by unlawfully creating a new budget line, which accounted for €701,197 between 2019 and 2024. Philip Claeys, the ID’s former secretary-general who now holds the same position in the Patriots group, has consistently defended these donations as compliant with the Parliament’s regulations, arguing that public procurement was also conducted correctly.
This investigation marks yet another setback for the National Rally, particularly following Le Pen’s recent conviction for illegally diverting over €4 million in European Parliament funds over a twelve-year period to finance party personnel, complicating her aspirations for the French presidency.