Fraud investigators are probing the European Parliament’s most powerful group, POLITICO

“The EPP Group is proud to extend its full cooperation” to legal authorities, a spokesman for Weber and the EPP groups said in a statement to POLITICO, adding that no outside auditors “currently have open cases of alleged misuse of funds.”

A multi-layered query

The EPPO is responsible for investigating serious crimes affecting the EU’s financial interests and liaises with national law enforcement authorities to conduct investigations.

Asked about the EPP investigation, a spokesman for the EPPO, which does not normally comment on ongoing cases, said: “We have an ongoing investigation into allegations of misuse of EU funds committed in Belgium by members of a European Parliament political group. However, at this stage, this investigation is only establishing the facts, there are no suspects. Whenever we can say something about any of our investigations, we will do so proactively.”

Asked about the EPP case, a spokesman for the Belgian prosecutor’s office declined to elaborate.

“The investigation is being conducted by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, so I cannot comment on the case,” said Eric van der Sypt, a spokesman for the Belgian prosecutor’s office.

Last year, Belgian and German police raided at the Brussels headquarters of the EPP as part of an investigation into suspected bribery in business during the 2019 elections. The investigation was conducted by the German anti-corruption body, but the EPP rejected it as “groundless”. There is no evidence that the EPPO investigation is related to this.

The investigation takes place during Weber challenge internal dissidents regarding his management of the party to which he is appointed reform in the coming months, and when he reorganizes the parliamentary group by appointing a new secretary-general.