Source: European Parliament
17.10.2025
Question for written answer E-004098/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Auke Zijlstra (PfE)
On 3 October 2025, it was announced that a significant number of Dutch and Belgian cultural organisations were imposing a boycott on Israel and all Israeli institutions and companies.[1] One such cultural organisation is the Oerol Festival. The festival’s website lists Creative Europe as a ‘partner’.[2] According to the Financial Transparency Register, the Terschellings Oerol Festival Foundation received EUR 4.34 million between 2016 and 2023, of which EUR 3.89 million was paid out.[3] However, point 2.3 of the 2025 Annual Work Programme for Creative Europe states the following: ‘The Creative Europe Programme contributes to the Commission’s equality strategies under the Union of Equality priority, contributing and reporting its actions on gender equality, anti-racism and fighting antisemitism…’[4]
- 1.Does the Commission share the view that the action taken by the Oerol Festival (and possibly other supporters of the boycott who also receive financial support from the EU) runs counter to the objective of Creative Europe, which aims to combat racism and antisemitism?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to take action against the organiser and signatories of this boycott, namely the Oerol Festival?
Submitted: 17.10.2025
- [1] https://www.cultureleboycotisrael.nu/home_en.html
- [2] https://oerol.nl/en/support-oerol/sponsors-and-partners/sponsors-and-partners-oerol-2025/?cn-reloaded=1
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/budget/financial-transparency-system/analysis.html
- [4] https://culture.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-10/2025-creative-europe-annual-work-programme-C%282024%296503%2018-09-2024.pdf