A European regulatory body has initiated a procedure that could lead to the banning of the European political party Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN), which includes Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD).
According to Politico, the Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations (APPF) has sent a letter to the EU Council stating that ESN’s activities are incompatible with the fundamental values of the European Union. If the procedure succeeds, the party could lose its official status and EU budget funding.
Europe of Sovereign Nations is a far-right, Eurosceptic party founded in 2024 following the European Parliament elections. Its members include parties from Germany (AfD), Bulgaria (Revival), France (Reconquête), Poland (Konfederacja), and several other countries. In the European Parliament, ESN forms a parliamentary group of the same name, which is considered one of the most radical right-wing blocs.
Critics accuse ESN of violating the principles of the rule of law, democracy, and human rights protection — the core values enshrined in EU treaties. The party’s supporters, on the other hand, claim this amounts to political persecution of forces advocating for national sovereignty and opposing further centralisation of the European Union.
The decision on ESN could set a precedent and have serious implications for other right-wing and Eurosceptic movements across Europe. The final decision will rest with the EU Council.