6 ’eminent persons’ to weigh ban on European far-right party
A one-time MEP candidate, experts affiliated to political think tanks, and former Commission heavyweights are tasked with advising whether to pull the plug on European political parties.
Six individuals appointed by EU institutions will deliberate on Thursday whether the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations should be banned as an EU party and lose funding, according to an internal note obtained by POLITICO. The Committee of Independent Eminent Persons is responsible for advising the EU Political Parties Authority on alleged breaches of European values.
Committee members were chosen through a mix of political maneuvering, EU countries endorsing their candidates, and European Commission officials selecting former peers, leading to criticism from the parties and foundations they now scrutinize. Alexander Sell, vice president of the Europe of Sovereign Nations and its foundation president, expressed hope that the committee would maintain neutrality, despite members having clear political affiliations.
The ESN, the European branch of the Alternative for Germany party, may face deregistration and funding loss after the authority alleged violations of EU values, including anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, and anti-LGBT rhetoric. The European Parliament approved this process in July, but the ESN remains a separate legal entity from its European Parliament political group, which has 27 MEPs.
The committee will have two months to issue an opinion, after which the authority will make a final decision. The EU Council nominated two candidates: German professor Pia Lange and Lithuania's Linas Kontrimas, while the Commission's secretariat-general selected Martine Reicherts and Alexander Italianer, the latter now working as an EU affairs adviser at a law firm.
The Parliament chose Luca Vanoni, an expert in law and religion, and Anna Pacześniak, who serves on the Scientific Council of the European Social Democrats’ Foundation. The EU institutions confirmed that all appointments complied with the rules, which prohibit sitting EU officials, commissioners, and MEPs from serving on the committee.
Pacześniak's role at FEPS, which does not involve remuneration, and Kontrimas' status as an independent candidate were highlighted as non-conflicting factors.
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