In a written answer on 3 July 2026, Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner condemned all forms of violent extremism in response to a parliamentary question from MEPs Isabella Tovaglieri (PfE) and Silvia Sardone (PfE) about the Hammerbande case and left-wing extremism. Brunner reaffirmed the EU's commitment to monitoring extremist risks and supporting Member States through existing frameworks, but announced no new legislative or operational measures specifically targeting left-wing extremism.
The question cited the Hammerbande, a far-left criminal organisation accused of attacks on far-right activists, including an incident in Budapest in February 2023. The MEPs asked what steps the Commission would take to counter left-wing extremism and whether it would consider designating Antifa groups as terrorist organisations, as the US has done.
Brunner's answer referenced the ProtectEU agenda (COM(2026) 101 final) and the EU Knowledge Hub on the Prevention of Radicalisation as key tools for supporting Member States in fighting all forms of radicalisation. On the question of terrorist listing, he explained that under Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/455 of 26 February 2026, listing requires a decision by a competent authority that an individual or entity is involved in a terrorist act as defined by the decision, with the Council acting by unanimity. The answer did not indicate any intention to propose listings for Antifa groups or to introduce new EU-level measures against left-wing extremism.
The response is largely declarative and procedural, offering no concrete targets, deadlines, or new policy initiatives. It signals that the Commission views counter-extremism as primarily a Member State competence, with EU support limited to coordination and knowledge-sharing. No immediate institutional follow-up is expected beyond ongoing work under the ProtectEU agenda and the Knowledge Hub.