Key facts
- Six appointed experts will begin deliberations on Thursday regarding a potential ban on the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) party.
- The ESN party faces allegations of breaching EU values, including anti-immigration and antisemitic rhetoric.
- The Committee of Independent Eminent Persons will advise the Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations on the matter.
- The ESN party is the European home of Germany's Alternative for Germany party.
- The committee has two months to issue an opinion after receiving all documentation.
- Members of the committee are reimbursed for expenses but do not receive payment.
Six individuals appointed by EU institutions will commence discussions on Thursday to determine whether the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) party should be banned and consequently lose its EU funding. The Committee of Independent Eminent Persons has been tasked with advising the Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations (APPF) on alleged violations of European values by the ESN.
The selection of committee members, involving political negotiations and nominations from EU countries and the European Commission, has drawn scrutiny. Alexander Sell, vice president of the ESN, expressed hope for neutrality despite the political affiliations of some appointees, stating that "in a true democracy, party representatives should not be involved in decisions regarding the funding of their political rivals."
In July, the European Parliament initiated the process to deregister and defund the ESN following allegations of breaches of EU values, including anti-immigration, antisemitic, and anti-LGBT rhetoric. The ESN party is a distinct legal entity from the ESN political group in the European Parliament, which comprises 27 MEPs and is not subject to sanctions. Political groups are parliamentary factions, whereas parties are broader alliances of national parties funded by the EU budget.
The committee is expected to deliver its opinion within two months of receiving all necessary documentation, after which the APPF will render a final decision.
Committee members include German law professor Pia Lange and Lithuania's Linas Kontrimas, nominated by member states. The Commission's secretariat-general put forward former commissioner Martine Reicherts and former Secretary-General Alexander Italianer. The European Parliament appointed professor Luca Vanoni and Anna Pacześniak, who is associated with the European Social Democrats’ Foundation (FEPS). Spokespeople for the institutions maintained that the appointments comply with regulations, which only prohibit sitting EU officials, commissioners, and MEPs from serving on the committee. Pacześniak clarified that her role at FEPS is unpaid and that the foundation aims to include critical analysts, not just those sharing social-democratic views. Kontrimas stated he ran as an independent candidate and is not affiliated with any party. Italianer noted his law firm has strict conflict-of-interest rules, and nominees from the Council and Commission signed declarations to that effect.