Rumours of an ongoing European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) probe of the European People’s Party (EPP) is a “reheated” scandal aimed at undermining party president Manfred Weber, a party director has claimed.
Speaking to Brussels Signal, EPP press director Pedro López de Pablo rejected claims that there was an ongoing probe into officials within the EU parliamentary group regarding the possible misuse of EU funds.
He said that while there was an ongoing investigation over potential malpractice within the EPP’s broader party structure, that began in 2019, this probe was limited to the party alone and not the European Parliament group. He added that the party has continued to cooperate fully with authorities regarding this investigation.
Asked why the scandal was being brought up now, López de Pablo said that the issue was being “reheated” to undermine Weber, who has come under increasing pressure in recent months.
“Someone is trying to damage Weber,” he said.
Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party, has said he is open to forming a government coalition with the Greens in Germany. https://t.co/SXjrIBuhl1
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) October 8, 2024
The press director’s claims following reporting in the Brussels bubble that EPP’s European Parliament group is currently facing an EPPO probe over the potential misuse of EU funds.
Some outlets cited a vague statement from EPPO as evidence for this claim, with the public prosecutor coming out on October 30 with a statement confirming it was probing one unnamed group over similar accusations.
“In this particular case, we can only confirm that we have an ongoing investigation into allegations of misuse of EU funds committed in Belgium by members of a political group of the European Parliament,” it said.
“However, at this stage, this investigation is merely into facts and there are no suspects. Whenever we can say something about any of our investigations, we will do so proactively.”
The EPP group subsequently published a statement saying that it has not been approached by either the Belgian or EU prosecutors’ office in relation to any such investigation.
“The EPP Group refers to a media report to the effect that the EPPO is leading an ‘ongoing investigation into allegations of misuse of EU funds committed in Belgium by members of a political group of the European Parliament’. The media attributes this to our Group,” the statement read.
“We have not been approached by the EPPO, or by the Belgian authorities, or indeed by any other law enforcement agency, about any possible investigation of any kind.
“The EPP Group prides itself in extending its full cooperation with the EPPO as well as with any other national or European authorities, should it ever be approached, and in full transparency.
“The EPP Group imposes rigorous standards in the implementation of its budget and voluntarily subjects itself to scrutiny to ensure compliance, not least by an internal auditor, by external auditors as well as by the Court of Auditors, whenever required by this institution. None of the audits currently have any open cases of alleged misuse of fund,” it added.
Reports surrounding the alleged spending probe comes amid broadly reported rumours of infighting within the EPP.
Much of the internal conflict reportedly surrounds Weber, with some national parties within the EPP said to be uncomfortable with the level of power the German politician has accrued in Brussels.
Additional reporting by Javier Villamor
Ireland’s former European People’s Party (EPP) prime minister, Leo Varadkar, is reportedly palling about with ex-US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. https://t.co/45KFJ2RTuy
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) August 23, 2024
