European Parliament launches review of EU funding for AfD-linked ESN party

On 7 July the European Parliament voted 414‑224 to open a formal review of the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN), a pan‑European political alliance founded by Germany’s far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after its expulsion from a previous group. The review will assess whether ESN still meets EU registration rules and qualifies for the roughly €2 million annual EU subsidy it receives. A 300‑page dossier compiled by the EU Authority for European Political Parties alleges 26 incidents of racist, antisemitic or homophobic statements by ESN‑affiliated politicians across several member states. Critics argue the move is a way for Brussels to target the AfD without involving Germany’s constitutional court, effectively cutting off its European funding. The Greens/EFA and The Left have called for the funding to be withdrawn, while the authority handling the case is led by Pascal Schonard, whose career includes senior roles in the European Parliament’s secretariat and links to the European People’s Party. No final decision has been taken yet, but the case could lead to the dissolution of ESN and the loss of its EU funding.