The Patriots for Europe Group (Patrioci for Europe), including the French Rassemblement National, the Italian League, the Hungarian Fidesz, the Polish National Movement and the Spanish Vox, can be held financially liable for alleged abuse of its predecessor – the Identity and Democracy Groups (ID).
According to the opinion of the Committee on Budgetary Control of the European Parliament (CONT), the Patriots for Europe should reimburse more than €4.3 million of wrongly utilized EU funds from 2019 to 2024. Parliamentary financial services have determined that the ID group has spent at least EUR 4 333 635,78 against the rules. Although the ID has been formally solved, CONT suggests that PfE is its economical and individual continuation – so it should be liable for debts and irregularities.
The opinion reads:
"The secretary-general of the group and respective management members are identical to those of the disbanded Identity and Democracy, with the vast majority of erstwhile ID Euro MPs presently in the Patriots for Europe group".
According to the authors of the document, there is besides a legal continuation at European organization level:
"European political organization previously registered as ‘Identity and Democracy has late changed its name to ‘Patriots.eu’, thereby confirming the continuity of law between the 2 parties".
The head of the CONT committee, German MEP Nicolas Herbst (EPP), does not hide the intention:
"We want Parliament to regain all the resources. We do not want any group to just change their name and escape responsibility."
Although the CONT decision has no legal force, it is adequate to mention the substance to the Bureau of Parliament, which will take the final decision.
PfE rejects allegations: ‘Unlawful political harassment’
The Patriots for Europe powerfully reject the charges and consider them an effort at political revenge by the establishment – socialists, EPP and liberals. In a message just published, they point to a gross deficiency of equality with the law.
"The senseless claim that Patriots are the legal successor to Identity and Democracy is unwarranted and politically motivated," comments the Euro MP Tamás Deutsch from Hungarian Fidesz, PfE coordinator in the CONT committee.
Deutsch stressed that the largest groups in Parliament, despite much higher budgets, are not subject to any real scrutiny:
"This is simply a double-dimensional scandal, showing that specified controls are carried out only erstwhile the group is dissolved, while the 2 largest political factions – Socialists (68 553 054 euro) and the European People's organization (85 276 205 euro) – are not subject to any European Parliament control at all".
The Patriots for Europe say they will not let themselves to be silenced:
"We powerfully reject this procedure and usage all legal means to defend our rights. Patriots for Europe will not be silenced and will proceed to fight for the millions of Europeans it represents."
In accordance with Parliament's Rules of Procedure, the final decision on the possible liability of the PfE for the debts of the ID belongs to the Bureau, which includes president Robert Metsol, 14 Vice-Presidents and 5 Quaestors.
