The European Union is facing growing criticism for awarding hundreds of millions of euros in contracts to companies owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, despite his vocal opposition to EU policies and alignment with controversial U.S. political figures.
The controversy emerged after Green MEP Daniel Freund demanded transparency on EU funding linked to Musk. In response, the European Commission disclosed:
€159 million paid to Tesla in 2023 for building electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
A $197 million contract awarded to SpaceX in 2024 to launch satellites for the EU’s Galileo system, citing delays in Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket program.
€630,000 spent on advertising with X (formerly Twitter) before suspending promotions in late 2023.
Critics argue the payments contradict the EU’s values, given Musk’s repeated attacks on the bloc’s digital laws and his ties to far-right U.S. politics.
“He’s an outspoken enemy of the EU. It’s outrageous that we’re funding him,” Freund posted on X.
Musk’s platform, X, has also come under fire for enabling hate speech and misinformation, further fueling concerns about EU complicity.
The Commission said the contracts were based on pragmatic needs, not political alignment. SpaceX was chosen out of necessity, and Tesla’s grant supports the EU’s green transition.
Still, the situation underscores tensions between strategic reliance on tech giants and the EU’s stated commitment to digital sovereignty and democratic values.
The scandal is likely to spark deeper debates in Brussels around procurement reform and how the EU balances technical necessity with ideological integrity in its dealings with global tech powerhouses.
