2022 discharge: General budget of the EU - Commission

Tabled by Monika Hohlmeier, Petri Sarvamaa

191. Is concerned Removed: by the serious allegations made by Israel that 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) might have participated in the despicable terrorist attacks in October 2023; notes that the Agency immediately terminated their contracts and welcomes the launch of an UN investigation; notes that the allegations involve 12 out of 13 000 local members of staff of UNRWA in Gaza alone, who are themselves victims of the ongoing humanitarian tragedy while playing a critical role in distributing food, water, and medicine; notes that UNRWA has developed a specific framework to ensure the neutrality and independence of its operations in line with the UN standards, which includes vetting and due diligence measures, and shares the list of all its staff with the host countries, including Israel, on an annual basis; calls for full transparency regarding the conclusions of the UN investigation; Added: about credible reports that Union taxpayers’ money or funds of other donors could have been partially misused by the terrorist organisation Hamas; emphasises that the relevant Union funds should benefit the Palestinian civilian population and provide food, medical supplies, housing and basic infrastructure to the suffering population and notably to children, women, elderly and disabled persons; urges the Commission, in the context of delivering support and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population, to diversify trusted partners, such as the WHO, UNICEF or different Red Crescent organisations; furthermore, is worried about other credible reports that certain employees of UNWRA could have been involved in or associated with acts of terror by the Hamas terrorist organisation; urges the Commission to guarantee independent controls of the UNRWA by external experts, the European Court of Auditors and experienced international partners, such as, but not limited to, Global Affairs Canada or AusAid;

Wording as published by the EP, in English. PE760.600