In the past weeks, the BUDGET committee approved the following building projects requested by the European External Action Service (EEAS). No plenary vote is needed for these procedures.

New lease for extending the stay of the EU Office in West Bank and Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem

After analysis of the real estate market, the EEAS has presented the request for extending the stay of the EU office in its current premises in French Hill, East Jerusalem. The cost for the EEAS of this new 15-year long-term lease contract, i.e., up to 2038, would be approximately EUR 21.500.000.

The leased premises are located in a detached building with five floors and a net surface area of 2.421 m2. The total net surface, including terraces, balconies and backcourt is of 3.533 m2. Moreover, there are two parking levels with a total surface of 1.112 m2. Premises include an entrance lobby, secured access with double interlocking doors, entrance and reception areas, office space, with a combination of single and shared offices, meeting rooms, archives, kitchenettes, corridors, washroom areas, co-location spaces for European Investment Bank and EU Special Representative.

New offices in Brazil and in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The EEAS seeks the approval to sign a 20 years lease contract for a new office building for the Delegation to Brazil in Brasilia. The suggested office is a stand-alone “Lotus Prime building” constructed on a plot of 2.000 m2 with a total office surface of 2.380 m2 and 2.380 m2 of parking and technical rooms. The new premises would replace the current owned main office building and rented annex buildings. The total net cost for the EEAS would be EUR 44.678.331 over a 20-year period, i.e. up to 2043.

Moreover, the EEAS seeks approval to also buy offices on the 5th, 6th and 7th floors of the Park Towers Building in Kinshasa-Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), at a price of EUR 13.857.159. The EEAS seeks approval to finance this acquisition with a loan. As in DRC land remains property of the State, the purchase will be made by holding a concession of 25 years. These new premises would replace the currently rented premises and the total net cost for the EEAS would be EUR 26.543.696 over a 20-year period, i.e. up to 2042. The total available surface is 2.928 m2 and the usable surface is 2.570 m2, of which 2.375 m2 for the EU Delegation and 194 m2 for the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

The ID Group deplores the lack of transparency concerning the EU building policy and considers all these projects as an outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money. Furthermore, while the Qatergate investigation is still ongoing, the BUDGET committee decided to approve all these highly questionable projects, first and foremost the major economic investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

However, the most disturbing aspect is that the new offices in Kinshasa will probably be bought from a group of Indian businessmen who may have links with the former head of State Joseph Kabila, already known in the past for allegations of corruption.

It is imperative therefore to pay the utmost attention to this kind of operation as the ID Group has always done in the past and will certainly continue along this path: it is a question of transparency and fairness towards European citizens who are already suffering from the consequences of the ongoing energy crisis.