Criticism of the allocation of public funds by some MEPs in the European Parliament and attempts to freeze funding for environmental NGOs have raised serious concerns among NGOs in Europe. 570 civil society organisations came together and issued a joint statement. In the statement, it was stated that these criticisms, especially from the European People's Party (EPP) and far-right groups, are based on misinformation and question the legitimacy of CSOs in democratic processes.
The statement called for the defence of civil society against attacks on CSOs in the European Parliament. The responsibility of the European Union institutions to protect democracy and civic space was also emphasised.
All democratic forces must mobilise against disinformation
The statement said that the 50 companies with the largest lobbying budgets spent around €200 million on lobbying activities in the EU alone in 2024, and reminded that the annual funding of €15.6 million provided under the LIFE programme was cut.
In the statement, it was also said that the European Commission should take a stronger stance against false allegations about how CSOs obtain and use funds. It was also stated that supporting CSOs with public funds is vital for strengthening democratic values and increasing citizens' participation in decision-making processes. It also called on all democratic forces to mobilise against false narratives and disinformation about the role of CSOs.