Transparency International requested the EU’s anti-fraud office (OLAF) on April 24 to investigate administrative failures and recommended disciplinary action against former Belgian MEP and Secretary-General of the Patriots group, Philip Claeys, as per a letter viewed by POLITICO. Transparency International claims Claeys was accountable due to his approval of the spending.
An OLAF spokesperson confirmed receipt of the information and stated, “We cannot comment further at this stage.” They clarified that examining the matter doesn’t mean an investigation has been opened and that a decision to investigate follows an initial assessment.
Transparency International also urged OLAF to assess whether Claeys’ roles as ID’s former secretary-general and current position with the Patriots, where he controls EU funds, present ongoing risks to the Union budget.
In September 2025, the Parliament’s budgetary control committee requested the Parliament’s secretary-general to reclaim funds from the Patriots.
At the time, the Patriots stated on X that the group was subject to a politically driven “witch hunt” and asserted it is not the same entity as ID, whose previous accounts had been closed.
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