Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-003759/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Costas Mavrides (S&D), Nathalie Loiseau (Renew), Andreas Schieder (S&D), Lucia Yar (Renew), Christophe Gomart (PPE), Loucas Fourlas (PPE), Nikos Pappas (The Left), Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR), Geadis Geadi (ECR), Galato Alexandraki (ECR), Michalis Hadjipantela (PPE), Nikolas Farantouris (The Left), Alice Teodorescu Måwe (PPE)
According to an article by Nordic Monitor[1], hundreds of millions of euros from the EUR 10 billion allocated by the EU to support Türkiye’s EU accession have been diverted by President Erdogan’s administration to finance espionage operations across the EU.
As reported, the Turkish foreign and interior ministries both used millions of euros from the EU Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance funds to support intelligence gathering against EU countries – either within EU borders or targeting EU diplomats posted to Türkiye. Specifically, based on the letter attached to the article, the Turkish foreign ministry had spent EUR 339.9 million from EU funds between 2014 and 2024, out of EUR 4 billion, while the interior ministry used EUR 327.9 million over the same period. The article also describes how the mechanism used by shell companies and front organisations to obscure the diversion of funds through the issuance of fictitious invoices was structured to appear legitimate.
In the light of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission intend to investigate this serious revelation?
- 2.Should any other competent EU bodies and services be asked to conduct such investigations, and what measures are planned should any infringements be confirmed?
- 3.What concrete steps does the Commission plan to take to ensure that EU taxpayer money is not used in ways that run counter to the interests and values of the EU?
Supporter[2]
Submitted: 26.9.2025
- [1] Bozkurt A., ‘EU’s aid to Turkey diverted to spying operations in Europe by Erdogan gov’t’, Nordic Monitor, 30 June 2025, https://nordicmonitor.com/2025/06/eus-aid-to-turkey-diverted-to-spying-operations-in-europe-by-erdogan-government.
- [2] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)