Tue May 13 11:53:54 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The European Commission has been facing criticism for awarding contracts and providing funding to Elon Musk’s companies, despite his critical stance towards the EU and his close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. Specifically, the EU paid Tesla for charging stations, commissioned SpaceX to launch Galileo satellites due to delays with Ariane 6, and paid X for advertising. EU lawmaker Daniel Freund has publicly condemned these payments, calling Musk an “enemy of the EU” and questioning the appropriateness of funding him given his political views and criticisms of the bloc.
**News Article:**
**EU Under Fire for Funding Elon Musk’s Companies Amid Criticism and Transatlantic Tensions**
**Brussels, Belgium – May 13, 2025 (IST)** – The European Commission is facing mounting criticism for awarding contracts and providing substantial funding to companies owned by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a vocal critic of the European Union. The controversy arises amidst strained transatlantic relations following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and Musk’s own attacks on EU digital regulations.
According to documents seen by AFP, the EU paid Musk’s automaker, Tesla, approximately €159 million ($176 million) in 2023 to build electric vehicle charging stations. In 2024, the commission awarded SpaceX a €197 million contract to launch satellites for the European Galileo satellite system, citing delays in the development of the EU’s own Ariane 6 launch vehicle. The EU also paid Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), €630,000 for advertising until ceasing such services in October 2023.
The funding has sparked outrage, particularly among EU lawmakers such as German Green MEP Daniel Freund. In a public statement, Freund condemned the payments, stating, “This man is an outspoken enemy of the EU and our core values. It is unacceptable that we continue to pay the richest man in the world hundreds of millions.”
Freund had previously requested information from the European Commission regarding EU funding to Musk-linked businesses. His concerns reflect broader anxieties about the EU supporting a figure who is both a prominent ally of President Trump and a frequent critic of the bloc’s policies, particularly in the digital realm. The ongoing controversy raises questions about the EU’s procurement strategies and its commitment to supporting companies aligned with its own values and geopolitical interests.
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