Surveillance authority targets AfD European party

funding

Surveillance authority targets AfD European party

Does the European Party, to which the AfD also belongs, violate the fundamental values ​​of the EU? The responsible authority sees indications of problematic behavior in member parties. Is there a trial coming?

The monitoring authority for European parties has indications of possible violations of EU fundamental values ​​by the European party of the AfD. A letter from the authority with the available facts was received by the EU Commission, as a Commission spokesman confirmed to the dpa news agency. The European Parliament and the Council of Member States also received the document. “Politico” had previously reported.

The Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) organization, co-founded by the AfD, could lose its registration as a European party and thus EU funding if a formal review is initiated and obvious and serious violations are discovered. Parliament, Council or Commission can decide whether to request an investigation. The Commission spokesman said the letter was currently being carefully examined.

According to the authority responsible for monitoring European political parties and foundations, the information provided raises doubts about the organization concerned’s adherence to EU values. She did not want to comment on details. According to Politico, the letter highlights court decisions that are critical of individual member parties such as the AfD, as well as social media posts with anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. The ESN party initially did not comment on this.

The transmission of the information does not constitute a decision nor does it say anything about the outcome of any formal review proceedings.

European parties are associations that consist, among other things, of national political parties. In addition to the AfD, members of the ESN party include the French Reconquête under the prominent right-wing extremist Éric Zemmour and New Hope in Poland. The European parties are independent in relation to the political groups in the EU Parliament.

Compliance with EU fundamental values ​​is a prerequisite for organizations to be registered as a European party and receive funding. These values ​​include human dignity, freedom, democracy and the rule of law. The parties must ensure that their member parties or organizations also respect the core values.

According to parliament, the funding approved for the ESN party in 2026 was a maximum of around two million euros. The Green MEP Daniel Freund said: “Anyone who agitates against minorities, makes pacts with the enemies of Europe and stirs up racism should not be rewarded with taxpayers’ money.” The co-chair of the left-wing faction in the EU Parliament, Martin Schirdewan, also called for the withdrawal of funds.

Under EU rules, the EU Parliament, Council and Commission have two months to declare their intention to ask the regulator to carry out a formal investigation.