In May 2026, the European Union for the first time launched a large-scale investigation into the activities of a pan-European political party, “Europe of Sovereign Nations” (ESN), closely linked to the parliamentary group of the same name in the European Parliament and representing the far-right spectrum of European politics. The probe, initiated by European supervisory bodies, is becoming a potential precedent that could define the limits of acceptable political radicalism in the European Union. At stake is not only the fate of ESN itself, but also the answer to a fundamental question: does the EU have the right to restrict the activities of political forces elected by millions of citizens if their ideology contradicts the Union’s core values?
The emergence of ESN is a direct result of the political processes that have taken place in Europe in recent years. Migration crises, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, inflation, and disagreements over support for Ukraine have all contributed to the strengthening of nationalist and Eurosceptic movements in nearly every EU member state.
Following the European Parliament elections in June 2024, far-right parties significantly increased their presence in the EU’s legislative body. However, serious disagreements soon emerged within the right-wing camp itself. A key event was the expulsion of the German party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) from the “Identity and Democracy” parliamentary group in May 2024. The move was triggered by numerous scandals involving statements from its representatives, as well as accusations of radicalism and ties between certain politicians and extremist circles.
Left in political isolation, the AfD began creating its own European alliance. On July 10, 2024, the new political group “Europe of Sovereign Nations” was officially registered in the European Parliament. To form a parliamentary group, at least 23 MEPs from seven EU member states are required. ESN managed to gather 25 deputies from eight countries. The AfD became the de facto leader of the project, delegating 14 MEPs to the group. The new alliance also included representatives from Bulgaria’s Revival party, France’s Reconquête, Czechia’s Freedom and Direct Democracy, Hungary’s Our Homeland movement, as well as Slovak and Polish nationalist organizations.
In September 2024, the full-fledged pan-European party ESN Party was officially registered. It gained the right to funding from the EU budget. Despite its relatively small size, ESN received all the privileges of a parliamentary group, including financing, seats in committees, additional speaking time, and the ability to participate in drafting legislative initiatives.
ESN builds its political platform around the idea of national sovereignty. Its program documents call for a revision of EU migration policy, limiting the powers of the European Commission, reducing the scale of climate regulation, and strengthening the role of national parliaments. ESN leaders argue that over recent decades the European Union has transformed from a union of states into a supranational bureaucratic structure that restricts the powers of national governments.
A special place in their agenda is occupied by criticism of further EU integration. ESN representatives oppose the creation of a “European superstate” and advocate returning certain powers to member states. Supporters of the movement describe this position as the defense of democracy and the right of peoples to determine their own future. Critics, however, see in this ideology an attempt to dismantle the foundations of the European project formed after World War II.
Almost immediately, ESN’s activities became mired in scandals. European media paid particular attention to statements by certain AfD representatives on issues of migration, national identity, and minority rights. It is worth noting that German security services had repeatedly warned about the AfD’s use of radical rhetoric even before ESN was created.
An additional source of tension was internal disagreements within the group regarding attitudes toward Russia and the war against Ukraine. In 2025, Polish ESN deputies publicly criticized their colleagues for an insufficiently tough stance toward Moscow. These conflicts demonstrated that even within the far-right camp, there is no unified understanding of European security.
The culmination came with the initiative of the European supervisory body “Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations” (APPF), which in May 2026 launched an official verification procedure regarding ESN Party.
According to European media reports, APPF has prepared a dossier of approximately 300 pages. It includes court decisions, public speeches by politicians, social media publications, and other materials that, in the opinion of the supervisory authorities, may indicate non-compliance with the fundamental values of the European Union.
The investigation is based on Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, which defines the Union’s core principles: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, human rights, and the protection of minorities. Investigators are seeking to determine whether certain statements and actions by representatives of ESN member parties violate these principles.
It is important to note that this is not yet about recognizing the party as an extremist organization or proving a violation of the law. At this stage, it is a procedure to assess the party’s compliance with European values. Nevertheless, the very fact of launching such an investigation is unprecedented. Never before have European institutions taken such large-scale action against a registered pan-European political party.
This is where the main public debate begins. Supporters of the investigation argue that democracy must defend itself against forces that use democratic mechanisms to undermine democracy itself. In their view, parties funded from the EU budget must adhere to the principles enshrined in the Union’s founding treaties. As an argument, they cite the historical experience of 20th-century Europe, when radical movements repeatedly came to power through democratic means and then destroyed democratic institutions.
Opponents of the investigation see the situation differently. They believe that the actions of European bodies create a dangerous precedent of political pressure on the opposition. They point out that ESN representatives were elected by millions of European citizens in democratic elections and therefore have a legitimate right to participate in political life.
Critics also highlight the vagueness of the concept of “European values.” In their opinion, the lack of clear criteria could lead to party assessments being influenced by political expediency.
If the investigation ends with a negative decision for the party, the consequences will be serious. ESN could lose its status as a European political party and its right to EU budget funding — estimated by European media at around two million euros annually. In addition to financial losses, it would face serious organizational restrictions and reputational damage. However, even in the event of sanctions, it would not be possible to automatically dissolve the ESN parliamentary group in the European Parliament, as the deputies would retain their mandates until the end of their term.
The political impact of the investigation and its outcome could be far greater. Some experts predict the mobilization of right-wing voters, who may perceive the probe as an attempt to suppress alternative political views. Others believe that a firm response from European institutions will strengthen public confidence in democratic mechanisms for protecting human rights.
If European bodies present convincing evidence of violations of core values, the investigation could become an example of effective protection of the democratic order. If the procedure is perceived as politically motivated, the consequences could be the opposite and only increase support for radical forces.
This is why the ESN case is considered by many analysts to be one of the most important political processes in modern Europe. Its outcome will determine not only the future of one party, but also how the European Union will respond to challenges from growing populist and nationalist movements in the coming years. Europe must decide where the line lies between freedom of political choice and the duty to protect the democratic order.