Brussels-based news portal Politico confirmed, the Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations (APPF) has drawn the attention of EU institutions to the fact that the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) party, also known as the Sovereigntists, does not respect the values of the European Union.
The news portal reported that the director of the authority overseeing European political parties sent a letter to EU institutions on Friday, in which Pascal Schonard cited evidence that “casts doubt” on the Europe of Sovereign Nations party’s compliance with EU values.
According to the news portal, in his 300-page letter, Schonard claims there is “evidence” that party members are violating EU values. The evidence includes screenshots and social media posts by Members of the European Parliament containing anti-immigration, anti-Semitic, and anti-LGBTQ content.
The authority “provided facts to EU institutions so they could decide whether to file a request to verify compliance with EU values,”
Politico quoted the authority’s director as saying.
In response to an inquiry from MTI, the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations first and foremost stated that the authority “did not initiate” the removal of any European political party or European political foundation from the relevant EU register.
They stated that if facts come to their attention that cast doubt on whether a European political party or European political foundation meets the registration criteria related to EU values, the Authority will inform the EU institutions of this.
In a letter to MTI, the APPF confirmed that “in one instance,” in accordance with its mandate, it “provided such facts” to the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission with the aim of enabling these institutions to decide whether to submit a request for verification of compliance with EU values.
They further stated that, at this stage of the procedure, the Authority “merely provided facts” to the institutions, rather than an assessment, a request, or a decision.
They also pointed out that the Authority cannot initiate a procedure on its own to verify compliance with EU values, nor has it done so. The EU institutions have two months to decide whether to initiate an investigation in response to the facts sent to them by the Authority.
In addition to the founding party, Alternative for Germany, the party’s members include the Hungarian Mi Hazánk Movement, the Bulgarian Rebirth Party, the Czech Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) Party, the French Reclaim Party, the Polish New Hope, the Lithuanian People and Justice Union, the Dutch Forum for Democracy, and the Slovak Republic Movement.
In reaction, Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland) Movement’s vice chair wrote on Thursday on the group’s social media page: “Sovereigntists are under attack: the competent European authority may strip the Europe of Sovereign Nations of its status as a political party and cut off its funding.”
Dóra Dúró stated that the organization faces charges of “violating EU core values.” Anti-immigration sentiment, anti-Semitism, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric: these are the well-known labels, she writes, adding that this marks an escalation in attacks against national sovereignty.
The politician said:
“Mi Hazánk stands firm in its commitment to its party family and to representing normality.”
Via MTI; Featured image: MTI/Komka Péter
