![A Turkish flag in Ankara, Turkiye on March 28, 2023. [Metin Aktaş/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/resizedd-1-5-4.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Turkiye on Thursday rebuffed allegations made in some media outlets that the Turkish National Agency is misallocating funds provided by the European Union, Anadolu has reported.
Since 2004, the agency has been providing opportunities for Turkish citizens to pursue educational, internship and volunteer programmes abroad, facilitating both individual and professional development, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The agency has supported over 39,000 projects with grants since its inception, benefiting more than 630,000 members of the public by enabling them to gain experience and skills abroad, it pointed out.
The ministry highlighted that grants provided through the agency are intended to support projects developed in collaboration with international partners from public institutions, the private sector and civil society groups. Some 46 per cent of the funds allocated under the Erasmus+ Programme have been utilised by universities, 23 per cent by vocational schools, 15 per cent by schools, 11 per cent by youth organisations, and 5 per cent by institutions involved in adult education.
All applications submitted to the Turkish National Agency are evaluated by independent experts from outside the agency, and projects eligible for grants are selected accordingly, explained the ministry. It also stressed that all supported activities are implemented in line with the rules published by the European Commission and under its supervision. The ministry urged the public not to pay heed to intentionally misleading news reports that seek to deceive people.
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