Raids at European Parliament Offices Conducted
Source reports published 22 Oct 2026, 1:07 am – 2:14 am AEST
The European Public Prosecutor's Office conducted searches at offices within the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged misuse of EU funds by the now-disbanded Identity and Democracy Group. The Patriots for Europe Group, successor to ID, stated it had no legal continuity with the previous group.
What happened
- The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) initiated searches at administrative offices of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg on Wednesday.
- The searches were linked to a complaint against the Identity and Democracy (ID) Group, which dissolved in 2024.
- The Patriots for Europe Group (PfE), formed from the remnants of ID, confirmed the activity and asserted no legal continuity with the dissolved group.
- French member Jean-Paul Garraud stated that the searches targeted the offices of former ID group staff.
- An EU parliamentary audit last year revealed that the ID Group misused approximately €4.3 million in EU funds between 2019 and 2024, directing funds to companies associated with the group and anti-abortion campaigners.
- The investigation was prompted by allegations surrounding a former advisor to Marine Le Pen and his wife, who received a significant portion of the misappropriated funds.
- Raids were conducted in France and other countries in June 2024 as part of the probe.
- The PfE currently holds 85 seats in the European Parliament, making it the third-largest group behind the European People's Party and the Socialists and Democrats.
Original reporting
- Deutsche Welle: Raids at Patriots for Europe offices in Brussels, Strasbourg
2026-10-21T16:14:43.817000+00:00 - France 24 English: Prosecutors search European Parliament offices of far-right Patriots bloc in graft probe
2026-10-21T15:07:45+00:00