MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Funding of Islamist associations by the Commission – E-002581/2024(ASW)

Following allegations regarding an Erasmus+ project[1] coordinated by Islamic Relief Germany in 2023, the German National Agency in charge of vocational education and training and adult education conducted thorough checks with the relevant German authorities and concluded that there were no relevant legal findings that would have justified to terminate the project in question.

The Commission is politically committed and legally bound to ensure that no one receives EU funding if they are involved in criminal or unethical practices, terrorism-related offences or in other activities incompatible with EU values. The award of funds is conditional to the absence of any exclusion grounds as set out in Article 138 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509[2].

The recent Financial Regulation recast[3] from September 2024 introduced an explicit ground under the Early Detection and Exclusion System to protect the EU values and exclude entities from receiving EU funds if they have engaged in activities contrary to the EU founding values[4], such as incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence, where it concludes that their integrity is impacted and affects or risks affecting their performance of legal commitments undertaken[5].

The Commission will continue rigorous monitoring procedures through checks and follow-ups on compliance with EU values. The Commission will immediately act on any evidence, by implementing appropriate measures against unreliable entities, e.g. suspension of contract or payments, contract termination, recovery or exclusion from EU financing.

• [1] https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/2023-1-DE02-KA122-ADU-000127773
• [2] Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast) (OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj).
• [3] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/990fe2a6-8f52-11ef-a130-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
• [4] These values are enshrined in Article 2 Treaty on the European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
• [5] Article 138(1), point (c)(vi) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast), OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024.