NGO funding in Brussels has been a topic of discussion for a while now. The right wing and conservative politicians in the European Parliament have lobbied to introduce a working group in the Budgetary Control Committee. This working group is intended to scrutinise funding given to NGOs and advocacy organisation in Brussels.

For NGOs this means a lot of energy and time will be redirected into justifying their work. This hinders us from focusing on impactful policy work. It is also aimed at restricting participation of citizens in public policy making through their representative organisations. Citizen’s voices are also important to keep checks and balances in the European Parliament with respect to the rule of law, including the monitoring of funding. 

EASPD supports the stance taken by Civil Society Europe (CSE) as to why this working group goes against the idea of transparency and threatens civic dialogue.

Know more through the CSE Press Release on the European Parliament Working group.  

This working group was approved on 19 June by the Conference of Presidents. The working group has been formed in the name of ‘transparency’. However, it’s only going to push civil society organisations outside of the EU policy landscape. A shrinking civic space is a big threat to a democratic society.

This Budgetary Control committee will be led by the European People’s Party and supported by the European Conservatives & Reformists group and the far-right Patriots for Europe.