At the request of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the Belgian federal police have launched an investigation into the misuse of European funds by far-right Vlaams Belang MEP Tom Vandendriessche.
In early July, Humo and Apache revealed that the European anti-fraud service OLAF had opened an investigation into Vlaams Belang MEP Vandendriessche, who is in charge of the party's ideology. At a later stage, the case was forwarded to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).
The investigation focuses on possible misuse of European funds: Vandendriessche allegedly asked European staff to carry out study work on domestic issues. This is not allowed, as the cabinets are financed with European funds.
According to Humo and Apache, the preliminary investigation has meanwhile produced enough material to start an investigation. While no investigating judge has yet been appointed, it does allow the federal police to start interviewing witnesses and questioning suspects. Possible house searches may also be carried out.
'Not true'
Vandendriessche declined to comment to Humo and Apache. Earlier, Vlaams Belang informed Het Laatste Nieuws that the complaint was the work of a vindictive employee. "What that man says is not true," the party said.
Vlaams Belang belonged to the European group Identity and Democracy (ID) until recently. After the European elections, the party joined Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's new far-right alliance Patriots for Europe.
Vandendriessche is not the only Belgian MEP under European investigation. Earlier, it became known that the federal police are also investigating Hilde Vautmans (Open VLD), who is also alleged to have misused European funds by using EU staff for non-EU work.
