Debate: Discharge
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Luke Ming Flanagan
Country: Germany
Language: EN

I would, however, in particular, like to see more cooperation between the Committee of the Regions and the EESC. There is more that can be done – one medical service for starters. And, I have to say, I enjoyed engaging with all these groups and getting to understand them more. And I would like to be able to talk about them more but I won’t with the time. I just want to say thanks to everyone for cooperating. With regards to the Council, thanks for nothing. Nothing for 20 years. You’re doing a damn good job at aiding and abetting Eurosceptics in saying that this project is a joke. I don’t think it is, which are making it a bit of a joke.  I would, however, like to focus on the European External Action Service and the genocide that’s taking place in Gaza. As you may know, I decided to withdraw my name from the file because I cannot be associated to dangerous and unsubstantiated attacks, to the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza and to an irreplaceable actor in the region. I’m obviously talking about UNRWA. First, there is no proof that EU taxpayers’ money has been used by Hamas following the 7 October attacks – and, by the way, history didn’t start on 7 October. The Commission carried out a review of the EU’s financial assistance to Palestine, and its conclusion is clean and positive, and I’ll quote them: ‘Through the review the Commission has preliminary screened a large portfolio of over 100 open projects benefiting Palestine, conducting a feasibility and risk assessment analysis. This analysis has not identified breaches of contractual obligations.’ Furthermore, concerning the involvement of the 12 staff members out of 13 000 employees by UNRWA and Gaza, not only have the agency terminated their contracts immediately, but the UN has also opened an investigation without delay and appointed an independent review group.  Suspending funds to funds to UNRWA would mean leaving 2.2 million people in Gaza without help, despite unprecedented challenges, including access impediments and the lack of security for humanitarian workers – by the way, there’s 177 UNRWA colleagues dead at this stage – the agency staff continues to assist civilians affected by the hostilities. Over 1 million people are sheltering in the agency’s facilities across the strip, receiving vital assistance.  This Parliament has already rejected, on several occasions, the request for suspension. Please let’s make sure we continue that policy. Redirecting funds from UNRWA to other partners is equal to opening the doors to chaos in the region, ignoring all the basic needs of Palestinian refugees. No other agency is mandated and has the ability to provide government-like services, including education and primary healthcare. It is about security. It is about human decency and respect for the lives of millions of people who have been subjected to years of oppression. Additionally, let me state a simple fact: this agency does not have control over EU funding in Palestine.  I’ll finish by talking about the amendment for the chairperson to the Committee. The amendment, which I’m ashamed to say, passed. The amendment, which meant I couldn’t possibly support the report. This particular part of the amendment sticks in my throat: ‘Asks the EEAS to use other trusted partners in Gaza.’ Sorry, Ms Hohlmeier, but the EEAS are trusted partners. I’ll finish by saying this: casting doubt on this agency has emboldened the IDF to target all relief agencies, including those working for the World Central Kitchen, that the IDF murdered in cold blood. When you greenlight the targeting of aid workers, you leave them all open to attack. Be careful with your words. We need those words removed from that report – I certainly won’t vote for it otherwise.