EU Member of Parliament Nikolaj Villumsen from the Red-Green Alliance has come under sharp criticism for allegedly misusing EU funds to finance campaign videos. According to experts, this violates the rules for the use of the so-called “400 funds,” which are earmarked for providing information about the work of the EU Parliament. The videos, which were published on social media in December 2023, were intended to promote the message of climate action in the EU but contained humorous elements and lacked specific mention of the EU’s work. This has been criticized for being in violation of the rules, especially because they were launched close to an election period.
Professor Bent Greve, a specialist in EU affairs, and Roger Buch, a researcher in party funding, have both stated that the content and timing of the videos make them illegal campaign activities. According to the rules for the “400 funds,” it is prohibited to use the funds for activities that could be interpreted as election campaigning. Despite the criticism, Nikolaj Villumsen defends the use of the funds and claims that the videos were approved by competent individuals within the EU Parliament. Villumsen has declined to participate in interviews but has expressed disagreement with the critics’ assessments and maintains that the activities were in compliance with the rules.
The case has raised questions about the boundaries of what EU funds can and should be used for, as well as how the rules are enforced within EU institutions.