‘’The heads of delegations will have to look deep into the matter and if there is any concern, we will act immediately. There is no terrorist financing from EU funds. As long as there are EU funds, this cannot happen, this will not be tolerated and if it happens, it will have to be rectified and I will see to it myself that it is done and delivered,” said Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.
European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi said he has asked the heads of EU delegations both in Tel Aviv and West Bank and Gaza to look into the issue of EU funding to Palestinian terror organisations and ”to ensure that our financial support doesn’t get to terrorists, terrorist organisations, organisations that support terrorists or organisations that support terrorist organisations.”
”We have received a number of requests from the Israeli authorities in that regard and also from the public opinion. I took immediate action,’’ the Hungarian Commissioner said in response to a question from Spanish MEP Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, who chairs the EU-Israel delegation for relations with Israel, during a meeting on Tuesday of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
‘’The heads of delegations will have to look deep into the matter and if there is any concern, we will act immediately. There is no terrorist financing from EU funds. As long as there are EU funds, this cannot happen, this will not be tolerated and if it happens, it will have to be rectified and I will see to it myself that it is done and delivered,” said Commissioner Varhelyi.
In its annual document reviewing past EU budgets, the European Parliament has called on the European Commission to make sure that funds in future budgets do not go to any parties linked to terrorists.
Several MEPs have expressed alarm that NGOs affiliated with terrorist groups are eligible for EU funding after it was revealed that the EU representative to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Kuhn von Burgsdorff, wrote in a letter to a network of Palestinian NGOs that individuals with ties to terrorist organisations may take part in EU-funded activities.
Two weeks ago, the Israeli foreign ministry summoned EU Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret over this issue. and we would appreciate your attention on this matter.
Reports by the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs and the NGO Monitor Research Institute have shown that senior members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinien (PFLP), which is on the EU terror list, also lead organisations funded by the EU.
During the foreign affairs committee meeting, Commissioner Varhelyi also said it is ‘’too early’’ now to come with negative measures against Israel regarding the issue of annexation.
He declared, in his response to a question from Belgian Socialist MEP Marie Arena: ‘’The Israeli new government has only entered into office. So let’s wait and see what actions they take. I think what is crucial at this stage is to continue with a peace plan that is based on the two-sate solution. This is what we need to pursue. If the EU wants to be part of this peace plan and be part of any peace arrangement, it needs to engage with all the interested, be it Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Unites States. We will have to engage with each of them with an open mind.’’ This is what I plan to do in that regard; So it is too early to come with negative measures when it comes to annexation.’’