Brussels, July 9, (dpa/GNA) – An investigation has been launched into the alleged misuse of EU funds, by a defunct far-right political group at the European Parliament.
The Luxembourg-based European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), charged with investigating crimes against the financial interest of the European Union, confirmed the probe to dpa on Tuesday, without providing further details.
Last week the publications Le Monde, Die Zeit, Kontraste and Falter, as well as German broadcaster ARD, reported on an internal audit by the European Parliament into the use of public funds by the Identity and Democracy (ID) political group.
The reports alleged that ID has misused around €4.3 million ($5 million) in EU funds between 2019 and 2024. Money was said to have been channelled to associations that support stray animals or opponents of abortion, as well as to companies associated with the parliamentary group.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), France’s National Rally (NR) and Italy’s League were among the members of the group.
Following last year’s European elections, European right-wing parties formed two separate groups at the European Parliament and ID was dissolved.
This is not the first time that alleged misappropriation of EU funds has been an issue.
France’s National Rally has faced scrutiny for its handling of EU money.
Former partly leader Marine Le Pen, was convicted in March by a court in Paris of embezzling EU funds in a separate case. She has appealed.
Prosecutors accused RN of using money from the European Parliament to pay staff who were working for her political party, rather than for parliamentary assistants. The allegations relate to the years 2004 to 2016.
The judge at the time also delivered guilty verdicts to eight other members of her party who, like Le Pen, served as lawmakers in the European Parliament. Additionally, 12 parliamentary assistants were found guilty.
GNA