World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
EU prosecutors search offices linked to former far-right group
EU prosecutors searched offices in Brussels and Strasbourg on Wednesday in an investigation into suspected misuse of European Union funds.
The investigation concerns Identity and Democracy, a European Parliament group that existed from 2019 to 2024 and included France’s National Rally, or RN.
The searches took place in administrative offices now used by Patriots for Europe, a group formed after Identity and Democracy dissolved.
Patriots for Europe said it has no legal continuity with the former group and is not involved in the investigation.
Auditors previously found at least €4.3 million in EU funds may have been misused during the former group’s 2019–2024 term.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office said the searches were part of an ongoing investigation into EU funds but did not identify the group or give further details.
The investigation is continuing, and prosecutors said they would withhold more information for now to protect it.
EU prosecutors searched European Parliament offices in Brussels and Strasbourg on Wednesday as part of an investigation into the use of EU funds by a former parliamentary group.
The investigation concerns alleged financial crimes involving Identity and Democracy, which existed from 2019 to 2024 and included France’s National Rally.
The searches took place in administrative offices linked to the Patriots for Europe group, which includes the National Rally and succeeded Identity and Democracy.
Patriots for Europe said it has no legal continuity with the former group and is not involved in the investigation.
Auditors concluded that Identity and Democracy members had misused at least €4.3 million in EU funds during the 2019-2024 term.
- Who
- The European Public Prosecutor’s Office searched offices linked to the Patriots for Europe group. The investigation concerns the former Identity and Democracy group.
- What
- Searches were carried out as part of an ongoing investigation into the use of EU funds by a former European Parliament group.
- When
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
- Where
- European Parliament offices in Brussels and Strasbourg; prosecutors said they searched premises in France and Belgium.
- Why
- The searches are part of an investigation into alleged misuse of EU funds by Identity and Democracy.
Patriots for Europe
European Public Prosecutor’s Office
Legal relationship
Patriots for Europe
Patriots for Europe says there is no legal continuity with Identity and Democracy and that it is not involved in the investigation.
European Public Prosecutor’s Office
The EPPO is investigating the use of EU funds by a former European Parliament group; it did not name the group.
Identity and Democracy existed as a political group in the European Parliament.
A probe into suspected misuse of funds by Identity and Democracy had already led to searches in several countries, including France.
EU prosecutors searched premises in France and Belgium, including Parliament offices in Brussels and Strasbourg.
- Investigation body
- European Public Prosecutor’s Office
- Former group
- Identity and Democracy (ID)
- Search locations
- Brussels and Strasbourg
- Period under investigation
- 2019-2024
- Auditors’ estimate
- At least €4.3 million in EU funds misused
4 sources
Offices of European Parliament far-right group raided in EU funds investigation
Raids at far-right group's offices at European Parliament
Prosecutors search European Parliament offices of far-right Patriots bloc in graft probe
Des perquisitions au Parlement européen ciblent l'ex-groupe Identité et démocratie, où siégeait le RN
What people are saying
The Patriots for Europe Group emphasizes that there is no legal continuity with the ID Group and that it is not involved in the ongoing investigations.
the offices of staff members of the former Identity and Democracy group
On est sereins. On montrera que l'on est, encore une fois, complètement innocents.