2022 discharge: EU general budget - Commission

‘Points out that the Qatargate scandal exposed both civil society organisations as catalysts for corruption as well as malicious interference by foreign governments’

‘regrets the fact that NGOs and civil society organisations are still exempt from most anti-money laundering transparency and reporting obligations; emphasises that European Court of Auditors Special report No 35/2018 warns that NGOs are prone to be used for money laundering purposes; calls, therefore, for a definition of NGOs to be established at Union level and for NGOs to be brought within the scope of Union action to combat money laundering’

Text as a whole without the words: ‘Expresses strong concern about the recent case of alleged misuse of Union funds in contracts involving the purchase of face masks known as the “Koldo case”; is concerned that this misuse of Union funds and Union taxpayers’ money involved 14.6 million Euro from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 3.1 million Euro from the EU Solidarity Fund; regrets that the EPPO received the relevant information from a private individual and not from the relevant national authority’, ‘notes that the alleged misuse of funds in the case was not discovered by the Commission despite having conducted audits’ and ‘further notes that similar situations have occurred in other Member States including in a recently uncovered case of alleged fraud in Portugal involving ERDF funds and several cases in the Czech Republic on alleged misuse of REACT-EU funds in the purchase of medical equipment’

Text as a whole without the words: ‘notes that the review, finalised on 21 November 2023, has shown that the Commission applies adequate ex-ante and ex-post controls, that the safeguards in place are effective and that no evidence has been found to date that money has been diverted for unintended purposes’

Text as a whole without the words: ‘Expresses deep concern regarding the recent announcement by some countries of suspension of funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) pending the outcome of the investigation;’ and ‘increased and sustained funding in recognition of the agency’s crucial role in the humanitarian response in Gaza, and’

‘Expresses deep concern regarding the recent announcement by some countries of suspension of funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) pending the outcome of the investigation;’

‘Stresses the importance of education and the critical need to denounce and eradicate all manifestations of hate speech and violent actions on both sides; underscores that the suspension of funding should not occur arbitrarily or without transparent and independent evidence of misuse;

‘commends UNRWA for its indispensable humanitarian endeavours in Gaza and its pivotal role in delivering quality education, with a specific emphasis on fostering a human rights culture, even in challenging times;’

‘Recalls that the findings of the study commissioned by the Commission to Georg Eckert Institute on the Palestinian Textbooks revealed a complex picture where the textbooks (i) adhere to UNESCO standards and adopt criteria that are prominent in international education discourse, including a strong focus on human rights, (ii) express a narrative of resistance within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and (iii) display an antagonism towards Israel; notes that the Union does not fund the Palestinian Textbooks and that neither are they the responsibility of UNRWA, which works to deliver quality education with an emphasis on fostering a human rights culture, even in challenging times;’

‘underlines that education and pupils’ access to peaceful and unbiased textbooks is essential; stresses Parliament’s position that textbooks drafted by Union funds, must be made conditional on full compliance with UNESCO standards of peace and tolerance; as already was decided upon by the Parliament in its 2023 recommendation on relations with the Palestinian Authority, and as repeatedly requested in its latest adopted resolutions on Prospects for the Two-State Solution;’

‘Is concerned about the destruction and confiscation of Union-funded projects in the West Bank and notes that in 2022, 101 structures funded by the Union or Member States were demolished or seized by Israel with a value at EUR 337 019, representing the third highest financial injury since 2016; recalls that representatives of Union institutions, concerned Member States and other donors have requested on several occasions the return or compensation for Union-funded assets demolished, dismantled or confiscated;’

‘recalls the position of the Council expressing its commitment to ensure that all agreements between Israel and the Union must unequivocally and explicitly indicate the inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, as well as to continue the effective implementation of existing Union law and bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products;’