The withheld records, requested in February, cover EU-funded projects from 2020 to 2023, including solar installations, water desalination plants, and renewable energy infrastructure. Taxpayers funded these assets, many of which have been destroyed during the conflict. While Karnitschnig suggested that releasing the files could harm international relations, the projects involve established partners such as Germany’s KfW development bank and NGOs like Oxfam Novib.
EU Commission denies public interest in Gaza funding disclosures
The European Commission has refused to release 17 documents detailing infrastructure funding in Gaza, asserting there is no overriding public interest in the disclosure. This decision, signed by acting Middle East department head Michael Karnitschnig, arrived on the same day the UN human rights office identified signs of genocide in the enclave.
Accountability remains the central point of contention. Although Commissioner Dubravka Šuica recently stated that the EU consistently demands compensation from Israel for demolished or confiscated assets, the Commission continues to shroud specific budget reports in secrecy. Karnitschnig provided links to four previously public documents, yet these fail to replace the detailed financial reporting required to gauge the true impact of the war on European-funded humanitarian efforts. With estimates of EU investment in the region reaching approximately €150 million, the refusal to grant access leaves the scale of infrastructure loss obscured behind administrative barricades.
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