In a written answer on 31 July 2026, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič's successor, Ms Lahbib, defended the Commission's oversight of EU humanitarian funding, stating that there is currently no evidence that money provided to Islamic Relief Worldwide has been diverted to Hamas or other terrorist organisations. The response, addressing a parliamentary question from ECR MEPs Charlie Weimers, Dick Erixon, and Beatrice Timgren, reaffirms the Commission's commitment to strict financial safeguards while leaving the door open for potential action against the charity's EU partners.
The question cited a May 2026 report by the German Federal Court of Auditors, which alleged that Islamic Relief Germany transferred large sums to partner organisations with limited oversight, including €240,000 in cash transported by plane to Türkiye, and suggested that funds may have indirectly reached Hamas. In her answer, Lahbib acknowledged the reports but noted they do not contain direct evidence of funds being transferred to Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood, nor of financing terrorist attacks. She stressed that all EU-funded humanitarian actions are subject to robust ex-ante assessments, contractual obligations, monitoring, and audit controls, and that the Commission has no evidence of diversion.
On the status of Islamic Relief Sweden and Islamic Relief Germany, Lahbib said the Commission continuously assesses whether partner organisations meet the conditions for the EU humanitarian certificate. Any decision to remove them would require substantiated findings following established procedures. She did not commit to a timeline or specific action, instead promising continued monitoring to protect the EU budget and ensure aid reaches those in need in line with EU law and humanitarian principles.
The answer stops short of concrete proposals, offering only a general commitment to vigilance. It leaves the ECR questioners without immediate satisfaction, as the Commission neither confirms misuse nor announces delisting. The response signals that the Commission prioritises procedural rigor over rapid punitive measures, balancing the need to safeguard funds against the risk of disrupting humanitarian operations.
Stakeholders impacted include EU taxpayers, who bear the cost of potential misuse; humanitarian partners like Islamic Relief, which face reputational and operational uncertainty; and beneficiaries of aid in conflict zones, who depend on uninterrupted assistance. The Commission's stance may reassure those concerned about due process but could frustrate critics demanding swifter action against alleged terror links. The file is likely to see continued parliamentary scrutiny, with ECR MEPs potentially pushing for further investigations or legislative measures to tighten oversight of EU humanitarian partners.