Source: European Parliament
20.10.2025
Question for written answer E-004125/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mélanie Disdier (PfE), Valérie Deloge (PfE), Roman Haider (PfE), Gilles Pennelle (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Fabrice Leggeri (PfE), Julie Rechagneux (PfE), Mathilde Androuët (PfE), Séverine Werbrouck (PfE), Nikola Bartůšek (PfE), Julien Leonardelli (PfE), Anne-Sophie Frigout (PfE), Pascale Piera (PfE)
Under the Horizon Europe programme, almost EUR 1 billion were allocated to the Turkish automotive industry between 2025 and 2027[1], according to reports in the Daily Sabah newspaper. A number of Chinese firms (BYD, Chery and SWM) have investments in Türkiye[2], and they will benefit from both that funding and the customs exemptions in place as part of the customs union between the EU and Türkiye under Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Türkiye Association Council.
Instead of helping to ‘ensure that the conditions necessary for the competitiveness of the Union’s industry exist’ as stipulated in Article 173 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the funds concerned will make the Chinese firms that are already dominant in the European market even more competitive, bringing about a distortion of competition to the detriment of European manufacturers.
- 1.Can the Commission provide clear details on the funds allocated to Türkiye?
- 2.How does it justify the allocation of Horizon Europe funds to a third country that is helping to flood the European market with Chinese cars?
- 3.When is it intending to redirect the funding concerned to European projects, so as to ‘unleash the innovative power of our companies and ensure a robust […] automotive sector’, as Ms von der Leyen quite rightly stated[3]?
Supporter[4]
Submitted: 20.10.2025
- [1] https://www.dailysabah.com/business/automotive/turkish-auto-industry-advances-green-transformation-amid-eu-push?
- [2] https://www.netcost-security.fr/automobile/260116/la-mefiance-entre-la-chine-et-leurope-cree-un-nouveau-geant-dans-les-vehicules-electriques/
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_378
- [4] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)