Turkish organisations closely linked to the President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have been receiving substantial EU funds, according to exiled journalist Metin Cihan. He has revealed that these organisations, known for their efforts in lobbying on behalf of Erdoğan, are controversially financed by EU money.
Cihan identified several Turkish organisations benefiting from EU funds, including the SETA Foundation (a think-tank), TRT (Turkish Radio and Television), TÜGVA (a youth organisation, TÜRGEV (a girls’ youth organisation) and the Dünya Etnospor Konfederasyonu (World Ethnosport Confederation). He provided evidence of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)-affiliated SETA Foundation receiving €250,000 for a project and an additional €41,020 for another initiative. “Who does the EU finance in Turkey?” Cihan wrote on X, listing the organisations linked to the Turkish government.
The SETA Foundation, which has offices in various countries, is known for promoting the Turkish government’s positions in Europe. In 2019, SETA published reports targeting journalists critical of Turkey, including those from international media outlets like the BBC and Deutsche Welle. “This think-tank operates as a foundation close to the Turkish ruling party AKP, using events and publications to influence social discourse in Europe,” stated the German government in response to a parliamentary query.
Criticism of the EU’s funding for Erdoğan-aligned organisations is mounting. Exiled journalist Can Dündar expressed his frustration: “Is it not time for the West, Europe and Germany to decide whose side they are on?” Dündar, who faced persecution from the Turkish government, highlighted the hypocrisy of the Turkish authorities labelling Western-funded entities traitors while benefiting from EU money themselves.
German Die Linke (the Left) MP Gökay Akbulut demanded an end to EU support for Erdoğan-linked organisations. “It is unacceptable that Erdoğan’s networks are financed with European funds,” she told FR.de. Akbulut urged the EU to scrutinise and halt financial flows to these entities.
Paradoxically, Erdoğan’s government is preparing legislation to restrict foreign foundations and media operations in Turkey. Gürkan Özturan from the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom noted, “While the ruling alliance is drafting a ‘foreign influencer’ law targeting local civil society and independent media relying on international funds, Cihan has revealed that government-affiliated organisations is claiming a large share of these funds.”
Erdoğan’s family foundations are also beneficiaries of EU funds. The Dünya Etnospor Konfederasyonu, presided over by Bilal Erdoğan, received €500,000 from the EU. Bilal Erdoğan sits on the High Advisory Board of TÜGVA, which also reportedly received EU money. Additionally, Esra Albayrak, Erdoğan’s daughter, is on the board of the TÜRGEV Foundation, another EU fund recipient.
State broadcaster TRT has also received EU funds, despite being a propaganda tool for Erdoğan. During the Turkish local elections in March, TRT gave 1,945 minutes airtime to Erdoğan’s speeches for while giving only 25 minutes to the opposition leader.
