Source: European Parliament
21.10.2024
Question for written answer E-002186/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Malika Sorel (PfE)
At the end of September, Commissioner Iliana Ivanova met ministers from the Western Balkans in Skopje[1] with a view to stepping up cooperation on education, research and innovation. She promised to support almost 400 research projects[2] under the European Research Area and the European Innovation Agenda.
This promise comes after the Faculty of Islamic Sciences in Skopje – which is close to Erdoğan[3] – became part of the Erasmus+ Network in early 2024: a development the dean welcomed as an opportunity to make a name for his faculty in the field of Islamic thought. In addition, the Hamas-linked Islamic University of Gaziantep in Türkiye[4], which is also part of the Erasmus+ Network, has recently been mired in scandal. These facts show how little attention the Commission pays when choosing its partners.
In the light of the above:
- 1.How has the EUR 140 million pledged for the Digital Innovation Hubs been distributed?
- 2.What are the 400 projects for which funding has been pledged?
- 3.Has the Commission taken these scandals into account with a view to withdrawing its support for partners that openly flout EU values? If so, which ones?
Submitted: 21.10.2024
- [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_4983
- [2] https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/13494/24
- [3] https://www.lejdd.fr/international/union-europeenne-une-faculte-de-theologie-islamique-rejoint-erasmus-143539#:~:text=Avec%20l%27ind%C3%A9pendance%2C%20elle%20a,ses%20premiers%20%C3%A9tudiants%20en%201997
- [4] https://www.lejdd.fr/societe/erasmus-lunion-europeenne-sous-le-feu-des-critiques-pour-avoir-integre-une-universite-pro-hamas-150023