EU Prosecutors Raid Far-Right Lawmakers' European Parliament Offices Over €4.3 Million Funds Probe

On Wednesday morning, investigators acting under the European Public Prosecutor's Office entered the administrative offices of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. The coordinated raids targeted the secretariat of Patriots for Europe, the legislature's third-largest political bloc.[1][2]

The searches are part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the alleged misappropriation of €4.3 million in European Union funds. The probe centers on the now-defunct Identity and Democracy group, which operated between 2019 and 2024 before dissolving and largely reforming under the Patriots for Europe banner.[1][2]

Belgian and French police focused on the offices of former Identity and Democracy staff members who transitioned to the new bloc. According to the European Parliament's press service, the institution is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and declined to provide additional commentary.[1][4]

No offices belonging to elected Members of the European Parliament were reported to have been searched during the operation. The focus remained strictly on the administrative apparatus that manages the bloc's day-to-day operations, procurement, and financial compliance.[3][6]

Tracing the Missing Funds

The European Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed the raids in a brief statement, noting they were part of an ongoing investigation into the use of European funds by a former political group. The anti-graft body declined to provide further details, citing the need to protect the integrity of the proceedings.[1][5]

The prosecutor's office formally opened its investigation in July 2025. The inquiry was triggered by an internal audit conducted by the European Parliament's financial services, which flagged irregular spending by the Identity and Democracy group involving tenders, donations, and service payments.[2][3]

Wednesday's operation follows an earlier, broader phase of the investigation. In June 2026, investigators conducted searches across France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy, targeting external contractors and service providers linked to the former group's expenditures.[2]

The core of the investigation examines whether the group used European Parliament funds to finance domestic political campaigns or unauthorized external activities. European Union regulations strictly prohibit the use of parliamentary allowances for national party operations or domestic electoral efforts.[1][3]

The EPPO, an independent body of the European Union, has the authority to investigate and prosecute crimes against the financial interests of the bloc. Its involvement indicates that the suspected irregularities cross the threshold into potential criminal fraud rather than mere administrative errors.[2][3]

The Question of Legal Continuity

Patriots for Europe swiftly distanced itself from the financial liabilities of its predecessor. In a public statement, the group emphasized that it has no legal continuity with the Identity and Democracy faction and is not the subject of the current investigation.[1][5]

"It would appear that these searches are linked to the complaint lodged against the Identity and Democracy group, which dissolved in 2024," the Patriots for Europe statement read. The group insists that the dissolution of its predecessor ended that organization's institutional existence.[1][5]

The Identity and Democracy group previously housed prominent far-right delegations, including France's National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, and Italy's Lega, led by Matteo Salvini. Following the 2024 European elections, those parties joined forces with Hungary's Fidesz and Spain's Vox to form Patriots for Europe.[1][2]

The central legal dispute now hinges on whether Patriots for Europe can be held financially liable for the debts of its predecessor. If investigators establish institutional continuity, the new bloc could be forced to repay the €4.3 million allegedly misspent by the former group.[1][2]

The €4.3 million figure represents a substantial portion of the Identity and Democracy group's operational budget during the 2019 to 2024 mandate. Recovering these funds would require the European Parliament to withhold future allocations from any successor organization deemed legally responsible.[1][2]

Political Fallout and Reactions

The raids have drawn sharp criticism from prominent figures within the Patriots for Europe bloc. Jean-Paul Garraud, the head of the National Rally delegation in the European Parliament, confirmed that the searches targeted the offices of former staff members.[1][5]

"While the streets of France are tipping into chaos, the authorities' priority appears to be this," Garraud wrote on the social media platform X, criticizing the timing of the administrative searches.[5]

The investigation highlights the growing scrutiny of how European political groups manage their substantial operational budgets. The European Parliament allocates millions of euros annually to recognized political groups to fund staff, research, and administrative costs, demanding strict accounting in return.[2][3]

For Patriots for Europe, the probe represents a significant administrative distraction as the bloc attempts to consolidate its influence as the third-largest force in the legislature. The group currently holds a pivotal role in shaping the Parliament's right-wing legislative agenda.[1][2]

The outcome of the investigation will likely set a precedent for how the European Parliament handles the financial liabilities of dissolved political groups. A ruling of legal continuity would severely impact the operational budget of Patriots for Europe for the remainder of the legislative term.[2][3]

The European Parliament's financial rules require strict separation between European mandate activities and national party politics. Funds allocated to political groups cannot be used to finance national election campaigns, referendums, or the operational costs of domestic political parties.[2][3]

As the European Public Prosecutor's Office continues its review of the seized documents and digital records, the timeline for any formal charges remains unclear. The investigation must trace the exact flow of the €4.3 million through various contractors before determining individual or institutional culpability.[1][2]