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The far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) alliance could lose its status as a European political party and access to EU funding following a review by an EU watchdog, according to reports published on Friday.
The Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations (APPF), which oversees European political parties, reportedly sent a letter to EU institutions stating that it had gathered evidence raising doubts about whether ESN complies with the European Union’s fundamental values.
According to Germany’s Die Welt newspaper, the procedure initiated by the authority could ultimately result in ESN losing both its European political party status and EU financial support.
According to media reports, the APPF’s 300-page letter includes court rulings, screenshots and social media posts by members of the European Parliament and national party officials.
The authority reportedly identified indications of possible breaches of the EU’s core values, including human dignity, democracy, the rule of law and minority rights.
Among the examples cited were anti-immigrant, antisemitic, anti-Roma and anti-LGBT statements.
A European Commission spokesperson confirmed to German news agency DPA that the Commission had received the letter and was examining its contents.
In a written statement to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, the APPF stressed that European political parties and political groups in the European Parliament are separate legal entities.
The authority said its mandate covers only European political parties and European political foundations, not parliamentary groups.
The APPF explained that when information emerges casting doubt on compliance with registration requirements, it notifies the European Parliament, the EU Council or the European Commission under Article 13(4) of Regulation 2025/2445.
Those institutions can then decide whether to request a formal verification procedure.
The authority emphasized that any such process would guarantee full procedural rights before any decision is made on removing a party from the register.
The APPF also clarified that removal from the register would not constitute a ban.
A European political party could continue operating under national law but would lose access to EU funding, it said.
The ESN alliance was established after the 2024 European Parliament elections on the initiative of Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The umbrella organization currently brings together nine parties, including Reconquest of France, New Hope of Poland, Our Homeland Movement, Forum for Democracy of the Netherlands and Republic Movement of Slovakia.
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