European Green Party Co-Chair Ciarán Cuffe said:
“Today’s vote means that the far right will be investigated for using EU money while simultaneously undermining EU founding values. When links were exposed between Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) MEP Maximilian Krah and Russian authorities, AfD broke away from the Patriots and built a different European political structure in order to continue accessing taxpayers’ money.”
European Green Party Co-Chair Vula Tsetsi added: “It would be unacceptable if European citizens’ money were abused for a project that aims to attack European values and the foundations on which our Union is built. Europe has been tolerant for far too long. Especially in today’s geopolitical context, we cannot allow structures that exist to undermine the European Union from within, to benefit from its funding."
"Today’s vote is an important procedural step. But defending European values requires political consistency. The fight against the far right cannot be selective or driven by convenience. Europe needs a pro-European democratic majority that consistently defends democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.”
Background
The ESN party was founded in August 2024 by far-right European parties, led by Alternative für Deutschland and including France's Reconquête and the Dutch Forum voor Democratie.
On Tuesday 7 July, the European Parliament decided by 414 votes to 224 and 18 abstentions to request the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations (APPF) to verify whether the ESN political party complies with the registration and funding conditions.
The vote in the European parliament is the start of a process that could lead to stripping the far-right ESN of its status as a European political party and consequent funding.
