A striking picture in EU grants: Record support for TÜGVA and TÜRGEV

Official records regarding the European Union's grant programs have revealed the support received by various foundations and associations over the last six years. According to the records, certain foundations and associations known for their proximity to the government, and where AK Party figures have also served, have regularly benefited from European Union grants during the 2020-2025 period.

According to a report by Ufuk Sepetçi from the Cumhuriyet newspaper, the total maximum grant amount awarded to the Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) and the Foundation for Youth and Education in Turkey (TÜRGEV) alone during the period in question was calculated at 2 million 278 thousand 436 euros.

ALTUN'S 2021 FUNDING STATEMENT BACK ON THE AGENDA

The report also recalled a statement made on July 21, 2021, by the then-Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun regarding media organizations receiving funds from foreign states or institutions.

In that statement, Altun argued that regulations should be introduced for media organizations receiving foreign funding, stating, "We will not allow fifth-column activities under new guises."

TÜGVA'S GRANT AMOUNT EXCEEDED 1.27 MILLION EUROS

According to National Agency records, the maximum grant amounts awarded to TÜGVA, among whose founders is Bilal Erdoğan, the son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are listed by year as follows:

2020: 323 thousand 166 euros

2021: 422 thousand 193 euros

2022: 120 thousand 568 euros

2023: 19 thousand 318 euros

2024: 123 thousand 309 euros

2025: 262 thousand 14 euros

Thus, the total verifiable maximum grant amount for the foundation in the 2020-2025 period reached 1 million 270 thousand 568 euros.

Projects for which TÜGVA received grant support included works titled "Young Turkey Congress," "From Anatolia to Europe," "Digital Language Cafe," "Let's Meet in Andalusia," and "International Youth NGOs Forum."

OVER 1 MILLION EUROS IN SUPPORT FOR TÜRGEV IN 6 YEARS

According to National Agency data, the maximum grants awarded to TÜRGEV were recorded by year as follows:

2020: 180 thousand 767 euros

2021: 138 thousand 410 euros

2022: 101 thousand 60 euros

2023: 175 thousand euros

2024: 161 thousand 100 euros

2025: 251 thousand 531 euros

Based on this data, the total maximum grant amount awarded to TÜRGEV over the six-year period was calculated at 1 million 7 thousand 868 euros.

The report also shared the information that the calculation only included projects where the organizations were the applicants and the grant amount was clearly stated.

SETA ALSO APPEARED ON OFFICIAL GRANT LISTS

According to official records, the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) was also among the organizations that benefited from European Union grants.

It was stated that SETA was awarded a maximum grant of 41 thousand 20 euros for the "Social Adaptation and Rehabilitation of Immigrants" project it carried out in 2023, and 28 thousand 139 euros for the "Safevoice" project in the third application period of 2025.

Thus, the total maximum grant amount awarded to SETA under the two projects was recorded as 69 thousand 159 euros.

DIYANET FOUNDATION, ENSAR, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ALSO RECEIVED SUPPORT

According to the information in the report, the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation was also awarded a total maximum grant of 52 thousand 800 euros under two projects.

For the Ensar Foundation, a total grant record of 68 thousand 866 euros was identified in the 2020 and 2025 application periods.

In addition, it was reported that the ÖNDER Association of Imam Hatip Graduates and organizations linked to Hayrat were also among the institutions that benefited from European Union grants in different application periods.

According to the data in the official records, while numerous foundations and associations were entitled to receive support under the European Union's grant programs in the 2020-2025 period, the total verifiable maximum grant amount for TÜGVA and TÜRGEV alone was calculated at 2 million 278 thousand 436 euros.

News Source: 12punto