Commissioner Magnus Brunner, in a written answer on 9 July 2026, declined to provide details on Europol's working meetings on Hamas, stating that the Commission has asked the agency to respond directly to the question from MEP Özlem Demirel (The Left). The answer, which contains no concrete information on the frequency, participants, or agenda of the meetings, effectively passes the request to Europol without a timeline for the agency's reply.
Demirel's question sought transparency on Europol's counter-terrorism engagements related to Hamas, including the dates and locations of past meetings, participating EU member states and third countries (notably whether Israel was represented and by which authorities), and the schedule and invitees for the next meeting. The Commission's response, however, offers only a procedural commitment to forward Europol's reply once received, leaving the substantive issues unaddressed.
The answer signals a cautious approach by the Commission, avoiding any direct disclosure on a politically sensitive file. The lack of a deadline for Europol's response may delay parliamentary oversight. Stakeholders, including civil society groups advocating for transparency in EU counter-terrorism operations, may view the deferral as insufficient. Conversely, law enforcement agencies may prefer operational discretion to protect ongoing investigations and international cooperation.