More than 181 members of the European Parliament are calling for an investigation into the European umbrella party Europa der Souveränen Nationen (ESN), which includes the AfD among its members. This demand comes in light of allegations that the ESN may have violated EU treaties and European principles, potentially leading to the revocation of its status as a European party.
The Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations (APPF) previously alerted EU institutions, stating that it had indications that the ESN party, which the AfD co-founded in April 2024, was not adhering to core European principles. The EU Commission, Council, and Parliament have a two-month window to formally initiate this review.
The reported petition, backed by over 181 signatures, can now be submitted and will require a majority vote in Parliament to be successful. The momentum for the review is strong, as the support for the application spans not only across the Left, Social Democrats, Greens, and Liberals but also includes conservative members.
Should the ESN lose its party status, the alliance would suffer a significant financial blow, losing approximately two million euros in state funding this year alone.
Daniel Freund, a Green MEP, commented on the issue, stating that everything suggests the AfD’s European party is contrary to European fundamental values, hence the need for the review. He added that those who act against the rules should not continue to be rewarded with taxpayer money.
