Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001702/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Gerald Hauser (PfE)
The EU and World Economic Forum (WEF) have been working closely together for years, as the Commission’s website explains. It states that ‘moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything [the WEF] does’.
Since 2024 at least, the WEF has been heavily criticised. Serious allegations, including of sexism, racism and abuse of power, have been made against the organisation. A case was brought against Klaus Schwab, long-time chairman and founder of the WEF, which, according to the press, was settled out of court, with compensation paid to the complainant.
On Easter Monday 2025, Schwab then resigned following new, serious allegations also involving members of his family. He is primarily accused of mixing private and business interests, and in particular of misusing WEF funds for personal ends.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5]
- 1.Does the Commission intend to continue working with the WEF despite the fact that the organisation faces serious, publicly documented allegations?
- 2.Why has it to date remained silent over the allegations of sexism, racism and financial misconduct made against the WEF?
- 3.What will it do to ensure that working with the WEF does not further damage its reputation?
Submitted: 28.4.2025
- [1] https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/organisation/wef-world-economic-forum_en
- [2] https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/das-wall-street-journal-wirft-dem-wef-sexismus-und-rassismus-vor-die-organisation-spricht-von-nachweislich-falschen-behauptungen-ld.1837801)
- [3] https://www.handelszeitung.ch/politik/klaus-schwab-ich-habe-mit-der-klagerin-nie-etwas-zu-tun-gehabt-756947
- [4] https://www.handelszeitung.ch/unternehmen/klaus-schwab-klage-wegen-diskriminierung-ist-vom-tisch-805224
- [5] https://www.blick.ch/wirtschaft/neue-vorwuerfe-wef-leitet-untersuchung-gegen-gruender-klaus-schwab-ein-id20804793.html