German MEP Marc Jongen (ESN) has asked the European Commission to disclose the scale of fraud in EU-funded development projects since 2016 and to clarify whether new controls under the NDICI/Europe in the World instrument will prevent future abuses. The written question, submitted on 16 June 2026, follows media reports that the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) has been investigating allegations of fraud in its Yemen projects since 2022, including currency manipulation and falsified fuel expense claims, with 24 staff suspended and potential losses estimated in the tens of millions of euros.
first, a request for a full list of fraud, embezzlement, and serious financial irregularities detected in EU development projects since 2016, along with the total losses per case; second, a demand for details on new binding control, audit, and early-warning arrangements under the NDICI/Europe in the World instrument, and how they differ from current procedures; third, a query on whether the Commission intends to temporarily or permanently exclude organisations or contractors from EU funding in the event of serious control failures.
The question signals a push for stricter oversight of EU development funds, particularly in fragile states where monitoring is difficult. It targets the Commission's accountability and could pressure it to tighten rules for implementing partners. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it plans to strengthen audit requirements or impose exclusion mechanisms. The GIZ case, which involves a major German implementing agency, raises concerns for EU taxpayers and development NGOs, as well as for contractors who may face new compliance burdens. The question also highlights a tension between maintaining funding for fragile states and ensuring robust financial controls.