German MEP Martin Sonneborn (NI) has challenged the European Commission over its decision to recommend terminating a €2 million grant to the Venice Biennale, accusing it of applying democratic criteria selectively. In a parliamentary question submitted on 14 July 2026, Sonneborn points out that while the Commission cited the reopening of the Russian pavilion as grounds for termination, Azerbaijan—rated even lower than Russia in Freedom House's 'Freedom in the World 2026' report (6 vs. 12 out of 100)—also maintains a pavilion run by the Heydər Əliyev Foundation, chaired by the First Vice-President and wife of President İlham Əliyev. The question, which follows Vice-President Henna Virkkunen's 11 July announcement that the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture should end the grant, asks on which specific provision of the grant agreement or Financial Regulation the recommendation was based, and what objective criteria the Commission uses to determine a breach of 'democratic values'. Sonneborn further asks whether the same criteria will be applied to the Azerbaijani pavilion, and if not, why not. He also inquires whether the Commission considers a country's gas exports to the Union when assessing its democratic credentials. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it treats the two cases consistently or applies different standards based on energy ties.
Source📩 Open question ↗
Asked byMartin Sonneborn (NI)