Extract of article published by kampania przeciw homofobii (Campaign against homophobia) on 20/09/2023- accessible here.
The end of EU funds for MEiN (Ministry of Education and Science)? The organizations point to the violation of EU law by Minister Czarnek and request that the Ministry be suspended from receiving EU funds.
The “Equality Watch” coalition – in which KPH (kampania przeciw homofobii) is a member – is submitting a petition to temporarily stop financing projects of the Ministry of Education and Science under European funds and to suspend the MEiN as an Intermediate Institution in the allocation of EU funds. We are talking about over PLN 700 million – MEiN violates the provisions of the Treaty on European Union, the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. It is Minister Puda’s responsibility to prevent the risk of incorrect spending of EU Funds for Poland now – reports “Equality Watch”. The application was submitted to the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy and the European Commission .
Violations of EU law block European funds
Poland, as an EU member state, is a beneficiary of EU funds. In the financial perspective 2021-2027, it is EUR 76 billion, or almost PLN 350 billion. All these funds can only be used in compliance with EU law and EU values, including: Charter of Fundamental Rights, the Treaty on European Union, the principle of non-discrimination and the so-called horizontal conditions applicable in the current financial perspective. Supervision over the compliance of the spending of European funds with EU law is carried out by Monitoring Committees operating at national and regional levels, and violations are reported to relevant state authorities.
The newly established Coalition for Equal Rights “Equality Watch”, which brings together organizations working for non-discrimination in these Monitoring Committees, points to regular violations of EU law and values by Minister Czarnek, who heads the Ministry of National Education and Science, which in practice should exclude the ministry from EU financing. Illegal spending of EU funds may lead to a situation in which the European Commission will consider the financed projects ineligible and, consequently, will not return the invested money to Poland. The Equality Watch Coalition warns against such a situation and submits a formal petition demanding an immediate response from the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, Grzegorz Puda.
“EU funds are the driving force behind changes – both in the technological, investment and social dimensions. The Equality Watch Coalition for Equal Rights ensures that this change also involves minority groups. Wherever EU funds are involved, we will also be there, making sure that no project, no beneficiary, no commune or institution can use EU funds if its actions, laws or regulations discriminate against anyone – informs Przemysław Walas from Tęczówka Association associated with the “Equality Watch” Coalition.”EU funds are the driving force behind changes – both in the technological, investment and social dimensions. The Equality Watch Coalition for Equal Rights ensures that this change also involves minority groups. Wherever EU funds are involved, we will also be there, making sure that no project, no beneficiary, no commune or institution can use EU funds if its actions, laws or regulations discriminate against anyone – informs Przemysław Walas from Tęczówka Association associated with the “Equality Watch” Coalition.
– We are requesting the suspension of MEiN from EU funds until the ministry introduces corrective actions, as was the case with local governments from the so-called anti-LGBT resolutions and Local Government Charters of Family Rights – notes Kazimierz Strzelec from “Equality Watch”.