MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Scrutiny of EU funding for a university that promotes antisemitism – E-002065/2024

Question for written answer  E-002065/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Lukas Mandl (PPE), Monika Hohlmeier (PPE), Alice Teodorescu Måwe (PPE), Sabine Verheyen (PPE), Antonio López-Istúriz White (PPE), Miriam Lexmann (PPE), Karlo Ressler (PPE), Petras Auštrevičius (Renew), Moritz Körner (Renew), Andrey Kovatchev (PPE), Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE), Niclas Herbst (PPE)

According to media reports, EU money is going to a university in Türkiye whose rector is known for his anti-Zionist and antisemitic position. We refer in particular to the article published on welt.de on 8 October 2024 under the headline ‘Rector incites against Israel – EU co-finances Hamas-friendly university’[1]. The article refers to relevant quotes and mentions projects that are financially supported by the EU through the Erasmus programme.

• 1.Did the above-referenced cash flows to the relevant projects actually take place, and what other cash flows have there been from the Erasmus programme or other EU programmes to this Turkish institution?
• 2.Are those responsible in the Commission and in the Erasmus programme aware that the rector’s above-referenced statements are incompatible with any concept of academic integrity and are capable of causing and justifying violence?
• 3.What measures will the Commission take to reclaim the money already disbursed, and to ensure that this institution and others that lack scientific character or even engage in hate speech are not further funded with EU taxpayers’ money?

Submitted: 14.10.2024

• [1] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article253897712/Erasmus-Programm-Rektor-hetzt-gegen-Israel-EU-finanziert-Hamas-freundliche-Uni-mit.html.