Hijacking of EU structural funds for military use would be a “new low” – Kathleen Funchion MEP

Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion, has said the proposed hijacking of structural funds such as regional development funds for military use would be “a new low” in the militarisation of the EU.

She was reacting to documents circulated by the Polish EU Presidency suggesting that the funds should be diverted to uses “including not only dual-use infrastructure but also of fully-fledged military purposes.”

Funchion, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Regional Development, said:

“This idea, which we fully expect to formally be proposed by the Commission next week, represents a new low in the militarisation of the EU. Through the decades, Ireland has received billions in EU funds to help us develop our regions, particularly here in Ireland South, helping us train our workers, build communications networks and help businesses develop. The idea that these funds will now be diverted to military use is shocking.

“The flagship policy of EU solidarity will now be hijacked to buy weapons and military hardware. It is a betrayal of regions in need and the concept of the EU as a Union of solidarity.

“We are all aware of the changing world we live in and other countries are free to build their military as they see fit but the use of regional development funds for this purpose is obscene. It is a measure of how utterly dominant the militarisation agenda is that even funds for our regions are now to be used for military infrastructure and equipment.

“Ireland already faced a battle in maintaining access to EU funds and in ensuring they went to our regions where they are needed most but now the EU has proposed undermining the entire policy to satisfy the military agenda. I will resolutely oppose this move.”