# Croatian MEP quits party over taxpayer event row

> Romana Jerković steps down from her national party after POLITICO revealed friends and family attended a European Parliament event with public funding.
- Title: Croatian MEP quits party over taxpayer event row · POLITICO
- Summary: Romana Jerković steps down from her national party after POLITICO revealed friends and family attended a European Parliament event with public funding…
- Keywords: romana jerković, sdp, european parliament, socialists and democrats, croatia, ethics, politics, world, Croatian, MEP, quits, party
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/croatia-mep-romana-jerkovic-stand-down-national-party-friends-family-european-parliament-event
- Published: 2026-10-08T18:02:35+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: romana jerković, sdp, european parliament, socialists and democrats, croatia, ethics, politics, world
## MEP resigns before disciplinary hearing
Romana Jerković, a Croatian MEP with the Socialists and Democrats group, stepped down from her SDP party on Thursday before facing a disciplinary investigation by the party leadership.
## Friends and family at taxpayer event
POLITICO revealed that Jerković's inner circle, including an art historian and an actor friend, attended a health policy event in Strasbourg in December two thousand twenty-four with flights and meals paid by the Socialists and Democrats group.
## Jerković denies wrongdoing, party demands standards
Jerković said she followed all rules and that the Socialists and Democrats confirmed no irregularities. SDP Secretary-General Jure Zubčić countered that political and moral accountability must set a new bar for Croatian politics.

> We must set a new bar for standards in Croatian politics.
## Key takeaway

Croatian MEP Romana Jerković resigned from her SDP party after POLITICO reported that friends and family attended a taxpayer-funded Parliament event in December two thousand twenty-four.