Ongoing investigations into embezzlement

At the EU level, investigations are currently ongoing into the alleged embezzlement of funds by the former Identity & Democracy (ID) political group. The focus has now also shifted to Philip Claeys, the former secretary-general of ID and a former member of the Belgian Vlaams Belang party. On April 22, the NGO Transparency International EU filed a complaint with the EU anti-corruption agency OLAF, demanding that an investigation be launched against Claeys as well. As ID’s secretary-general at the time, he was responsible for finances and continues to serve in this capacity with the Patriots for Europe (PfE). Allegations of misuse of funds had also been leveled against this group.

It is astonishing, according to Nick Aiossa (Director of Transparency International EU), that no action has yet been taken against Philip Claeys, “who was demonstrably responsible for the misuse of millions of euros—and whose political group is the subject of a criminal investigation. Not only has he faced no consequences for his involvement, but he is now even allowed to manage an even larger budget of taxpayer money. This goes beyond an employer’s leniency; it is sheer negligence.”

On April 29, the European Parliament called on the administration to take all necessary steps to clarify the EPP’s involvement in the allegations. The EPP rejects the claim that it is the legal successor to the ID and should therefore be held responsible. Tamás Orbán wrote in the European Conservative that this move is “widely viewed as a politically motivated action aimed at discrediting and neutralizing the third-largest faction in the European Parliament and the main opposition force against the current center-left ‘Ursula Coalition.’” Should this succeed, they could even deprive the “Patriots” of the operational funds indispensable for their work in Brussels, on which their members and staff depend.”