In a written answer on 23 June 2026, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib, on behalf of the European Commission, defended the robustness of EU humanitarian funding safeguards for the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon, responding to concerns raised by 21 MEPs about potential links between funded NGOs and antisemitic, anti-democratic or violent activities. The answer, which reiterates existing procedures without announcing new measures, aims to reassure stakeholders that the Commission's oversight mechanisms are sufficient to prevent EU funds from reaching entities involved in terrorism or other criminal activities.
The question, submitted on 14 April 2026 by MEPs Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR), Tomáš Kubín (PfE) and others, cited recent Member State actions—such as Sweden's reported defunding of Islamic Relief Sweden in January 2026, Germany's 2025 defunding of NGOs denying Israel's right to exist, and the Netherlands' 2022 cessation of funding to the Union of Agricultural Work Committees—as evidence of a trend toward stricter vetting. The MEPs asked what steps the Commission is taking to update funding contracts, partner vetting and oversight mechanisms for NGOs, UN agencies and local partners.
Commissioner Lahbib's answer contained no concrete proposals for new rules, numerical targets or deadlines. Instead, it described existing safeguards under the EU Financial Regulation (EU) 2024/2509, including ex-ante due diligence and risk assessments, implementation monitoring, and ex-post verification. The Commission stated that non-governmental partners are assessed against their capacity to observe EU, international and national law, as well as transparency and accountability standards. It also noted that Article 138 of the regulation allows exclusion of entities involved in criminal activities, including terrorist financing.
The answer reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to the EUR 458 million humanitarian assistance package for the Middle East announced on 16 March 2026, which includes EUR 124 million for the West Bank and Gaza and EUR 100 million for Lebanon. It also referenced the Joint Communication on humanitarian action of 27 May 2026, pledging to remain a principled, needs-based humanitarian partner while adapting ways of working to maximise effectiveness.
The Commission signals continuity rather than reform, emphasising that existing mechanisms are adequate. This stance may reassure humanitarian NGOs and UN agencies that funding streams will not be disrupted, but may disappoint MEPs and Member States seeking stricter vetting and exclusion criteria. Institutional follow-up is likely limited to routine implementation of the 2026 aid package, with no immediate legislative or regulatory changes expected. The answer leaves the door open for future adaptation, but only within the framework of existing rules.