Posted on by MIL OSI Publisher

Written question – Compliance of EDF funding of Intracom Defense with Regulation (EU) 2021/697 – E-002865/2025

Source: European Parliament

Question for written answer  E-002865/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Marc Botenga (The Left), Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE), Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE), Gaetano Pedulla’ (The Left), Maria Zacharia (NI), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Pasquale Tridico (The Left), Rudi Kennes (The Left), Branislav Ondruš (NI), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Rima Hassan (The Left), Michael von der Schulenburg (NI), Irene Montero (The Left), Catarina Martins (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left)

According to an international investigation by Investigate Europe, the Greek company Intracom Defense – the beneficiary of around EUR 14 million from the European Defence Fund (EDF) for the ACTUS drone project – is reportedly 95 % owned by the Israeli state-owned arms manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which is allegedly involved in the ongoing military operations in Gaza. Intracom’s financial reports indicate that IAI not only owns 95 % of its share capital but also holds 100 % of its voting rights. On 16 May 2024, Intracom announced its participation in three additional EDF-funded projects.

Under Articles 10, 12 and 22 of Regulation (EU) 2021/697[1] establishing the EDF, entities controlled by non-EU countries may access funding only under strict safeguards, ensuring no unauthorised control, access, or transfer of project results to non-EU actors. The regulation also requires compliance with ethical standards, international law and fundamental rights.

Given these concerns, can the Commission clarify:

  • 1.whether awarding EDF funding to a company under full control of a non-EU defence entity like IAI is compatible with Regulation (EU) 2021/697?
  • 2.whether it has conducted and documented a risk assessment excluding the possibility of direct or indirect transfer of EDF-funded results to the Israeli Government?
  • 3.whether it intends to open an investigation to verify compliance with regulatory and ethical obligations?

Submitted: 14.7.2025

  • [1] Regulation (EU) 2021/697 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing the European Defence Fund (OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 149, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/697/oj).