Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000545/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Petra Steger (PfE)
On 20 March 2024, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave advance notice of a joint report by special adviser Sauli Niinistö and former High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. Ursula von der Leyen received the EU-funded report on strengthening EU civil and military preparedness and readiness, requested by the Commission, on 30 October 2024. The report includes several aspects worthy of severe criticism: in addition to calling for even closer cooperation between the EU and NATO and close coordination on mutual defence, it includes plans to establish a fully-fledged EU secret service. Pursuing this would lead Austria even further away from its founding neutrality and the country would lose yet another piece of its national sovereignty. Above all, however, many unanswered questions remain in connection with the transparent use of taxpayers’ money.
- 1.What was the total cost of producing the Niinistö Report, and what remuneration did Sauli Niinistö and Josep Borrell personally receive?
- 2.What selection criteria were applied when awarding the contract to produce the report, and how many others did Sauli Niinistö and Josep Borrell compete with and ultimately beat?
- 3.What does the Commission make of possible conflicts of interest arising from Sauli Niinistö’s party political ties to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen?
Submitted: 5.2.2025