Our reaction to the European Parliament working group on NGO funding

Today, June 19th, the Conference of Presidents made the decision to establish a working group in the European Parliament to scrutinize NGO funding. We condemn the continuation of these baseless attacks on civil society, which further risks shrinking civic space even more at a time when citizens’ voices deserve more representation at EU level. 

This working group in the Budgetary Control committee, which would be led by the European People’s Party and supported by the European Conservatives & Reformists group and the far-right Patriots for Europe, is supposed to address issues relating to transparency of EU funding to NGOs and is based on the false narrative that the Commission pays NGOs to lobby the Parliament on its behalf. This is something that has been proven false, including as part of a recent report published by the European Court of Auditors, and civil society has been tirelessly defending itself against such attacks in recent months. NGOs like any other beneficiaries of EU funding can receive grants through an open and transparent procedure based on objectives defined in legislative acts decided by the Parliament and Member States, through independent evaluation of NGOs proposals.

The scrutiny civil society will face due to this Committee will affect organisations’ ability to carry out their missions. It is also aimed at restricting the possibility for citizens through their representative organizations to participate in public policy making in line with Treaty obligations, as well as support the European Parliament to act as checks and balances to the rule of law, including on the monitoring of funding.

“The establishment of this working group is part of a deliberate disinformation campaign led by some MEPs that are averse to public debate and want to divert attention on real budgetary control issues. We believe that such a senseless proposal will only contribute to increasing distrust among citizens towards the European Parliament and the European Union as a whole and reinforce anti-democratic  narratives.”, says Gabriella Civico, CSE President. 

By allowing such a working group, this raises doubts about this Committee’s capacity to identify critical issues and safeguard the financial interests of all Europeans.

We call on democratic forces in the Parliament from all political groups to stand against this working group entirely, and be on the side of citizens.