Searches at former radical-right EU group
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating possible misuse of parliamentary funds by the former Identity and Democracy group.
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Searches were carried out at European Parliament offices on Wednesday as part of an investigation into the former Identity and Democracy (ID) group. The investigation concerns possible improper use of European Union funds; no guilt has been established.
The searches were reported by Patriots for Europe, the group that replaced ID after the 2024 European elections. French and Belgian media also reported the action. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is investigating possible misuse of EU funds.
During the previous parliamentary term, ID included France’s Rassemblement National, Italy’s Lega and the Netherlands’ PVV, among others. The group was dissolved in July 2024. Some of the parties involved subsequently joined Patriots for Europe, but that is a different parliamentary group.
The investigation was prompted by a financial audit by the European Parliament. According to a parliamentary document, the audit found that at least €4.33 million in funds belonging to the former group may have been spent improperly. The parliamentary document said the money was available for the operation of a political group during the period from 2019 to 2024 inclusive.
According to the parliamentary document, the EPPO announced an investigation in July 2025 into suspected misuse of EU funds. The parliamentary audit pointed to potentially unlawfully spent funds. That finding is not a court ruling and in itself says nothing about the personal guilt of former MEPs.
During a search, investigators collect documents and digital data that may be both incriminating and exculpatory. The EPPO works with national authorities in doing so. Which offices were searched exactly, and which people or organisations are regarded as suspects, had not been made public on Wednesday.
The case is politically sensitive because it concerns a group that represented several European radical-right parties. At the same time, financial responsibility is legally individual: the existence of an investigation into group spending does not prove that all former members or the current successor are involved.
The case is relevant to Dutch voters because the PVV was also part of ID and because the European Parliament operates with EU budget funds. The investigation does not yet mean that prosecution or a conviction will follow.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Searches have been carried out as part of an investigation into possible misuse of European funds by the former Identity and Democracy group.
- A financial audit by the European Parliament refers to at least €4.33 million in potentially improperly spent funds.
- There has not yet been a court ruling on individual guilt.
Left
Arguments According to this perspective, the case shows that powerful and anti-establishment parties must also be subject to strict scrutiny when they manage public money.
Values Equal application of the rules, public accountability and protection of European institutions from conflicts of interest.
Consequences Supporters fear reputational damage to parliament and want funds recovered more quickly and stricter controls introduced.
Centre
Arguments The investigation should proceed independently and carefully, without political conclusions being drawn before the evidence has been assessed.
Values The rule of law, proportionality, transparency and the presumption of innocence.
Consequences This approach stresses better administrative oversight, but warns against public condemnation based solely on a search.
Right
Arguments The allegations must be investigated individually and must not be used to cast suspicion on an entire political movement or its voters.
Values Political equality, protection against selective prosecution and institutional restraint towards opposition parties.
Consequences Supporters fear that a broad political framing would further damage confidence in European law enforcement; they want full openness about the same audits of all groups.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is confirmed by a current public source and official parliamentary documents. The text explicitly keeps allegations separate from established guilt and identifies unknown details as uncertain.
- confirmed Searches were carried out on 21 October 2026 in connection with the former ID group. — Current reporting says searches were conducted at the European Parliament as part of an EPPO investigation into the former group. source
- confirmed The investigation concerns possible misuse of EU funds. — The EPPO investigation and parliamentary documents concern suspected improper use of EU funds. source
- confirmed The former ID group included RN, Lega and PVV, among others. — The group’s composition and political successor are described in publicly available background information. source
- confirmed At least €4.33 million may have been spent improperly. — The official parliamentary document refers to €4,333,635.78 in potentially unlawfully spent funds. source
- confirmed The EPPO opened an investigation in July 2025. — The parliamentary document says that the EPPO announced an investigation in July 2025. source
- confirmed The ID group was dissolved in July 2024. — Public information from the European Ombudsman records its dissolution on 8 July 2024. source
- confirmed It is not known which individuals are criminally responsible. — The public sources consulted report no definitive finding of guilt or complete list of suspects. source