In brief
On Wednesday, 21 October, the EPPO searched administrative offices of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg.
The probe concerns possible misuse of more than 4 million euros in European funds between 2019 and 2024, according to VRT NWS.
The Patriots for Europe group said there was no legal continuity with ID, which was dissolved in 2024, and that it is not targeted.
Searches in late June took place in Belgium, France, Spain and Italy in the same case, targeting companies working for former ID parties.
- Mid-2025EPPO says it has opened an investigation into financial irregularities at Identity and Democracy
- Late JuneSearches in Belgium, France, Spain and Italy target companies and service providers working for former ID parties
- 21 OctEPPO searches European Parliament administrative offices in Brussels and Strasbourg
Searches at two Parliament sites
Investigators from the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) searched administrative offices of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg on Wednesday, 21 October. The Patriots for Europe group said the searches concerned the former Identity and Democracy (ID) group, which was dissolved in 2024 after that year's European elections. The prosecutor's office confirmed the action in a statement:
“We confirm that searches have been carried out in the premises of the European Parliament in France and Belgium.”
The office added that it could not share further information for now, in order not to harm the investigation.
Suspected misuse of EU funds
The EPPO said in mid-2025 that it had opened an investigation into financial irregularities at Identity and Democracy. According to VRT NWS, the case concerns possible misuse of more than 4 million euros in European funds between 2019 and 2024. Searches in late June took place in Belgium, France, Spain and Italy in the same case. According to VRT NWS, those raids targeted companies and service providers that worked for parties from the former ID group.
Patriots and Parliament respond
The Patriots group said it has no legal link to ID and is not part of the investigation. Its statement said there was "no legal continuity" between the two groups. According to VRT NWS, parties such as Vlaams Belang and the French Rassemblement National were part of ID and now sit in the Patriots for Europe group. Mediafax reports that Jordan Bardella, the group's co-chair, declined to comment on the case.
A Patriots representative told AFP that the searches targeted the former secretary general of the ID group and that no offices of elected members were being searched. The European Parliament said through a spokesperson that it was cooperating with the competent authorities.
What is still unknown
The EPPO could not be reached immediately to say whether the investigation had changed. The office describes itself as an independent EU body responsible for investigating and prosecuting offences that affect the financial interests of the Union.