European civil society organisations (CSOs) are currently facing an unprecedented attack coming from certain Members of the European Parliament. The attack, spearheaded by some MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP) and by the far- right groups, is fuelled by disinformation. The attack resorts to misleading arguments to artificially fabricate a scandal, and is carried and amplified by badly informed media articles. At a time when democratic values are being eroded across the EU and Member States, and civic actors acting for these values are increasingly under attack, this renewed offensive on funding for CSOs and on our legitimacy in the democratic process risks not only shrinking European civic spaces further but weakening democracy as a whole.
Disinformation from elected Members of Parliament
On 22 January 2025, some MEPs brought a targeted debate to the Plenary of the European Parliament (EP) on public funding of NGOs, focusing on environmental civil society organisations receiving operating grants under the LIFE programme. The debate raised questions about the legitimacy for CSOs to get such subsidies from the European Commission to carry out their missions. Many MEPs spoke in favour of the right of citizens organisations to engage in the democratic process. However, some MEPs mismatched arguments, suggesting that environmental organisations had been paid by the Commission to lobby the European Parliament on its behalf. This false narrative brings together opponents to the European Green Deal and adepts of conspiracy theory. MEPs wrongly spoke about fictional amounts of billions of Euros going to CSOs. False claims that CSOs were not duly using the Transparency Register were made – even though EU transparency measures resulted from campaigns by civil society, and CSOs were amongst the first adopters when they were put in place.
Why should CSOs receive public funding?
The focus of the current attacks is the EU’s LIFE programme, the main funding instrument for nature conservation and climate action.
It totals around €700 million per year. As part of this programme, the EU Commission allocates €15.6 million annually across a number of environmental NGOs in compliance with the provisions agreed by the European Parliament and the EU member States after a competitive and open procedure to support civil society’s invaluable role in providing evidence-based, scientifically supported and constructive recommendations to policymakers on issues that matter to people.
These funds are already dramatically insufficient to pursue the goals they are tasked to support: create a level-playing field1,[1] helping policy makers access information, fact- based evidence and best practices from the ground; and hear about citizens’ needs and expectations for their health and wellbeing, social inclusion and equality, their rights and justice, the promotion of the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and a healthy environment for current and future generations. Millions of citizens support these contributions to EU policies, through national, local and grassroots constituencies, volunteering and community engagement, provision of services and access to rights for the most vulnerable and excluded.
For a strong civil society, the development of a framework for civil dialogue based on Art.11 TEU is a priority for this five-years term for the EU institutions. Properly resourcing civil society organisations to engage in this dialogue by involving their constituencies across Europe is crucial. In the EU, as in any democracy, public funding is needed to support the work of civil society organisations whose mission and objectives are strengthening the values enshrined in the treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
It is a characteristic of authoritarian regimes that institutions consider no intermediary bodies are needed and that citizens are fully and only represented by the leader/s they elected. Indeed, the current debate illustrates the overall confrontation underway between European values and autocratic perspectives.
We call on all democratic forces to oppose false narratives and disinformation around the role of civil society organisations, to protect our unique role in European democracy and to support public funding for civil society. Civic participation is an essential pillar of our shared European values. We call on decision-makers to ensure a robust legal framework in which civil society and citizens organisations can thrive and play their role in interacting with policy-makers in order to have a more fully informed decision-making process. Democracy is about the right of citizens to be collectively heard for building an inclusive society and a shared European future and properly funded independent CSOs are a crucial tool for that.
Supported by:
European organisations
ADRA Europe Agroecology Europe AIDS Action Europe
ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy Alliance4Europe
Alzheimer Europe
Association des Femmes de l’Europe Méridionale AFEM BirdLife Europe and Central Asia
Caritas Europa
CEE Bankwatch Network
Centre for European Volunteering Cerebral Palsy Europe
CESES – Confederation of European Senior Expert Services ClientEarth
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe COMMUNIA – Association for the Public Domain CONCORD Europe
Cool Heating Coalition Corporate Europe Observatory Culture Action Europe
DARE network – Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe (DARE) Network Drug Policy Network South East Europe
DSW – Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung DYPALL Network
ECIT foundation on European Citizenship ECOLISE AISBL
Erasmus Student Network EU LAT Network
Eumans Eurocarers Eurodiaconia
Eurogroup for Animals EuroMed Rights European Alternatives
European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)
European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) European Citizen Action Service
European Civic Forum European Disability Forum European Dyslexia Association
European Environmental Bureau European Federation of Journalists European Folk Network
European Liver Patients’ Association – ELPA European Music Managers Alliance European Network against Racism (ENAR)
European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention-ENSP European Network of Cultural Centres / ENCC
European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) European Partnership for Democracy
European Students‘ Union European Youth Forum
Fédération Internationale des ACAT Fédération Spéléologique Européenne
FEMYSO – Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations Friends of the Earth Europe
Greenpeace
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) HRDN (Human Rights & Democracy Network)
IGLYO – International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Intersex Youth and Student Organisation
International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network Liberties – The Civil Liberties Union for Europe
Lifelong Learning Platform Michael Culture Association
OBESSU – Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa
Pesticide Action Network Europe Quaker Council for European Affairs REScoop.eu
Samaritan International Seas At Risk
Shifting Advocacy Social Platform SOLIDAR
T&E – Transport and Environment
The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) Trans Europe and Central Asia (TGEU) Transparency International EU
Union of European Federalists Volonteurope
Wetlands International Europe Women Engage for a Common Future WWF EU
YEU International
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) Youth and Environment Europe
Zero Waste Europe
Austria
ARTS for HEALTH AUSTRIA
Austrian Council on Smoking & Health GLOBAL 2000
oevdf – association of Austrian experts in the field of drugs ÖJAB – Österreichische Jungarbeiter Bewegung Österreichische Liga für Menschenrechte
Südwind
Belgium
ARPi
Association of European Journalists in Belgium (AEJ Belgium) BASTA!
Belgian Alliance for a Smoke-Free Society Bond Beter Leefmilieu
Carbon Market Watch
Institute for international assistance and solidarity (IFIAS) Kif Kif vzw
Les Amis de la Terre – Belgique asbl
Mutualité Chrétienne – Christelijke Mutualiteit Natagora
OXY Belgium
Protestants Sociaal Centrum Antwerpen The School for Moral Ambition
UTSOPI
Bulgaria
Alliance for regional and civil initiatives (ARCI) BIg Brothers Big Sisters of Bulgaria
Bulgarian platform European Women’s Lobby
Bulgarian Platform for International Development (BPID) Dose of love Association
Economic Policy Institute European Institute Foundation Marginalia
Multi Kulti Collective
National Network for Children – Bulgaria Union of Bulgarian Journalists
Young, Active, Creative NGO
Croatia
ADRA Hrvatska BIOM Association
Brodsko ekološko društvo-BED Centre for Peace Studies
Centre for peace, nonviolence and human rights-Osijek Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity (CROSOL)
Croatian Volunteer Development Centre (Hrvatski centar za razvoj volonterstva) DKolektiv
Forum for Freedom in Education Gong
Human Rights House Zagreb Information Legal Centre
IPE ISKORAK
kolekTlRV │ For the rights of trans, intersex and gender variant persons LAG Zagorje-Sutla
Life Quality Improvement Organisation FLIGHT Marine Explorers Society 20000 Leagues
NGO “Eko-Zadar” Status M
Terra Hub Croatia
Trade Union of Croatian Journalists Zeleni Osijek
Cyprus
CARDET
Civil Society Advocates
UNION OF CYPRUS JOURNALISTS
Czechia
AutoMat, z.s. Beleco, z.s.
Centre for Transport and Energy Czech Forest Kindergarten Association Děti Země (Children of the Earth)
Ekumenická akademie, z. s. (Ecumenical Academy) Fórum 50 %
Frank Bold Kids z.s. Glopolis
Hnutí Brontosaurus Kavyl z.s.
Klimatická koalice / Czech Climate Coalition
Lesni materska skola Hvezdy v lese, z.s NESEHNUTÍ
Regional Centre for Expertise Czechia Society for Sustainable Living (STUŽ) Spiralis
Středisko ekologické výchovy SEVER (Centre for Environmental Education SEVER) Syndicate of Journalists of the Czech Republic
Ústecké šrouby, z. s. Zelený kruh (Green Circle)
Denmark
Baltic Sea NGO Network Denmark Europe Dialogue
HealthTeam for the Homeless
Estonia
Estonian Association of People Using Psychotropic Substances “LUNEST” Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation
Finland
Association of Children’s Culture in Finland
Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto (Finnish Association for Nature Conservation)
France
AIDES AIODD
Cap Magellan CFDT-Journalistes CRID
European Center for Human Rights Générations Futures
Global Health Advocates
La Ligue de l’enseignement
LDH (Ligue des droits de l’Homme) MeetEU
Mouvement européen France-Vaucluse nouvelle aube
VoxPublic
Germany
Araminta
BUND e.V. (Friends of the Earth Germany) Deutsche Aidshilfe
Gemeinsam leben und lernen in Europa e.V. German Speleological Federation VdHK
JES Bundesverband
LIFE Bildung Umwelt Chancengleichheit LobbyControl E.V.
SUPERRR Lab
Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Germany
Greece
Community Rights in Greece CYCLISIS
DAFNI KEK
Electra Energy Emfasis Non-Profit
Greek Forum of Refugees Inter Alia
NIDO Greece PeerNUPS
Positive Voice – Greek Association of People Living With HIV
Hungary
“I’d like to teach” Movement (Tanítanék Mozgalom) Alternative Communities Association
Anthropolis Association Artemisszio Foundation Civil College Foundation
Civil Platform for Public Education Clean Air Action Group Diákszolidaritás Akció
Dialogue Association Emberség Erejével Alapítvány Földkelte Foundation
Green Action Association HAND
Human PLatform Humusz Szövetség
Hungarian Association of Social Workers ( = SzMME)
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union Hungarian Press Union
Hungarian Society for Environmental Education (HSEE) Jane Goodall Institute Hungary
Magosfa Foundation for Environmental Education and Eco-tourism Motivation Educational Association
Nyomtass te is! (Print it yourself!)
Ökotárs-Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation
Oktatói Hálózat (OHA) – Hungarian Network of Academics Academics School of Public Life
Tavirozsa Association for Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation
Ireland
An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland BirdWatch Ireland
TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland Zero Waste Alliance Ireland
Italy
Amici di Sardegna ARCI APS
ASD VICENZA CALCIO FEMMINILE
Associazione La Strada ODV
Associazione non profit Le cose che vanno International Centro d’ascolto Mons. Spettu ODV
CIES ONLUS
Concord Italy
Consorzio delle Ong Piemontesi ETS Cooperativa Sociale Parsec
COSPE
Croce Bianca – Baunei Santa Maria Navarrese CSV SARDEGNA SOLIDALE ODV
CSVPOLIS
Domus Oristano OdV
EPLI ENTE PROLOCO ITALIANE
European Movement Italy
FNSI – Federazione nazionale Stampa italiana Fondazione LILA Milano ETS
Forum Droghe APS
Forum nazionale del Terzo Settore Haliéus
I Mandaresi APS Cagliari ICARO-ODV
ISCOS
ISDE, International Society of Doctors for Environment Italy Italian Climate Network
ITANPUD APS
ITARDD Italian Harm Reduction Network Kyoto Club
L’Isola di Arran ODV
La Mente Comune APS LEGAMBIENTE
LILA ONLUS NAZIONALE
Marche a Rifiuti Zero ETS Mediterranea saving humans MEDREACT
Osservatorio Fairwatch Paese dell’Acqua Parsec ngo
Progetto Sud ETS
SITAB (Italian Society of Tobaccology) Società Italiana di Tabaccologia
SOS Elmas volontariato sardo
Latvia
Association of Latvian Organic Agriculture Latvia Hemophilia Society
Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation Pasaules dabas fonds
Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia Zero Waste Latvija
Lithuania
Lithuanian Development Cooperation Platform Lithuanian NGDO Platform
Lithuanian Tobacco and Alcohol Control Coalition VšĮ Žiedinė ekonomika
Luxembourg
Action Solidarité Tiers Monde
Associtaion luxembourgeoise des journalistes professionnels (ALJP) CELL
Cercle de Coopération des ONGD du Luxembourg Le Soleil dans la Main A.S.B.L.
Malta
Friends of the Earth Malta Harm Reduction Malta ReLeaf Malta
The Netherlands
BankTrack
Correlation-European Harm Reduction Network Defend Democracy
ECNL – European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Human Security Collective
Liga voor de Rechten van de Mens Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands)
Poland
Polish Society for the Protection of Birds (OTOP, BirdLife Poland) Alliance of Associations Polish Green Network
Ethnographic Laboratory Association Expedition Inside Culture Association Federacja Mazowia
Foundation “Smart Health – Health in 3D” Green REV Institute
Grupa Zagranica
Habitat for Humanity Poland
Institute for Sustainable Development Foundation Institute of Public Affairs
Kultura Liberalna
National Federation of Polish NGOs NOMADA Association
Open Republic – Association against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia Panoptykon Foundation
Polish Ecological Club Mazovian Branch Polish Zero Waste Association PREKURSOR Foundation
Rodzice dla Klimatu
School with Class Foundation Social Ecologic Institut
Society of Journalists (Warsaw) Space for Life Foundation
The Power of Partnership Foundation / Fundacja Moc Partnerstwa [PL] To Proste Foundation
Portugal
A ROCHA- Associação Cristã de Estudos e Defesa do Ambiente Academia Cidadã
ACI – Centro InterCulturaCidade ADRACES
AEPGA – Associação para o Estudo e Protecção do Gado Asinino
Alambi – Associação para o estudo e defesa do ambiente do concelho de Alenquer ALDEIA
Almargem Associação de Defesa do Património Cultural e Ambiental do Algarve APDES – Piaget Agency for Development
Ares do Pinhal Associação ALDEIA Associação Dunas Livres
Associação Movimento Mira-Minde
Associação Vita Nativa – Conservação do Ambiente AVE – Associação Vimaranense para a Ecologia Campo Aberto – associação de defesa do ambiente CEENTAA associação cultural e ambiental Confederação Portuguesa do Voluntariado
Cova da Beira Converge
CPADA – Confederação Portuguesa das Associações de Defesa do Ambiente Evoluir Oeiras Associação
FAPAS – Associação Portuguesa para Conservação da Biodiversidade GAT – Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos
GEOTA – Grupo de Estudos de Ordenamento do Território e Ambiente Grupo Ecológico de Cascais
Juntos pelo Sudoeste KASA|PT
Kosmicare
Liga para a Protecção da Natureza (LPN) Movimento Glocal Faro
NDMALO-GE
Observalicia
Oikos – Cooperação e Desenvolvimento
Palombar – Associação de Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural Pequena Ilha Verde – Associação de Educação Neohumanista
Pista Mágica
Plataforma Civica Aeroporto BA6-Montijo Não PRIP | Cova da Beira Converge
proTEJO – Movimento pelo Tejo
Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza RWSW
Sciaena
SPEA – Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves SPECO – Sociedade Portuguesa de Ecologia
Último Recurso
ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável
Romania
ActiveWatch
Aer Pur Romania AFFMR
ARAS – Romanian Association Against AIDS ARC
Asociatia de Ajutor AMURTEL Romania Asociatia GEYC
Asociatia Nevo Parudimos Asociatia Orientat
Asociația Română d Consiliere și Sprijin; Grupul de Acțiune Locală Clisura Dunării Asociatia Samusocial din Romania
Asociatia Unic
Association Rroma Center “Amare Rromentza” Center for Public Innovation
Center for the Study of Democracy Centrul FILIA
Civic Radauti Association CIVICA Association
Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC) Civitas Foundation for Civil Society Cluj
E-Romnja Association Ecoteca
eLiberare Expert Forum
FEDERATION OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES-FONSS
Fundatia Civitas pentru Societatea Civila – Odorheiu Sec. Fundatia Comunitara Banatul Montan
Fundatia Corona Fundatia Inima de Copil Fundatia PARADA FUNDATIA SF. DIMITRIE
Ghita Eugen
Impreuna Agency for Community Development MASTERPEACE RO
Miliția Spirituală
MozaiQ LGBT Association Organizatia Umanitara CONCORDIA
Pro Vobis – National Resource Center for Volunteering
Resource Center for Public Participation on behalf of NGOs for Citizens Coalition
Roma Cultural Center O Del Amenca
Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation Romanian Society of Pneumology
Romanian Women’s Lobby Sustainable Development Center TERRA Mileniul III
Slovakia
Civic Association Odyseus Friends of the Earth – SPZ Iniciatíva Inakosť
Institute for Circular Economy, Nitra Community Foundation
Platforma dobrovoľníckych centier a organizácií Presovske dobrovolnicke centrum
Rada mládeže Slovenska Slovak humanitarian council
Society for Sustainable Living in the Slovak Republic Sytev
ZIPCeM
Slovenia
Association for harm reduction Stigma Citizen D / Državljan D
DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia
Focus Association for Sustainable Development Kultlab Celje Society
PIC- Legal Center for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment Povod Institute
SIBAHE – Slovenian Food Bank Slovene Philanthropy
Slovenian Coalition for Public Health, Environment and Tobacco Control Umanotera
Spain
ABRACEMOS AL MAR MENOR
ACCAS, ASOCIACIÓN CIUDADANA CÁNTABRA ANTI SIDA
ACE Traductores
ACICOM (ASSOCIACIÓ CIUTADANIA I COMUNICACIÓ)
Aculco ADAVAS – León
Al Tarab
AMAL-ASOCIACION MADRILEÑA DE ATEOS Y LIBREPENSADORES APEPOC
Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz Asociación Cultural Baizara
ASOCACION SOCIO-CULTURAL Y DE COOPERACIÓN- ACULCO ASOCIACIÓN ACERCANDO REALIDADES
Asociación PASOS Participación y Sostenibilidad Asociación T4
Associació Oasiurbà ATTAC SPain AUXILIA
Beyond Suncare casal la viña
Centro de Divulgación Cultural del Estrecho Al Tarab CIM Burkina
Confederación Intersindical Convergencia de las Culturas
Coordinadora Estatal de Plataformas Sociales Salesianas Creación Positiva
Ecologistas en Acción eco-union
El Cami Entreculturas
Europimpulse Network FAPE
Federación de Asociaciones de Personas Sordociegas de España (FASOCIDE) FUNDACIÓ PAU I SOLIDARITAT-CCOO CATALUNYA
Fundación 1 de Mayo Fundación Asha-Kiran Fundación El Pájaro Azul Fundación Hazloposible
Fundación por la Justicia de la Comunitat Valenciana Fundación privada Ficat
Fundación Savia por el Compromiso y los Valores Futuro en Común
IESMALA Association Imagen en Acción
Instituto de Cooperación Internacional y Desarrollo Municipal – INCIDEM Irídia – Centre per la Defensa dels Drets Humans
JUBILADO
La Bolina
La Coordinadora de Organizaciones para el Desarrollo Lafede.cat – Organitzacions per a la Justícia Global medicusmundi spain
Metzineres MUJERES PALANTE
Nofumadores.org
ONGAWA
Perifèries del Mon
Plataforma catalana de suport al lobby europeu de dones Projecte Socioeducatiu Naüm
Sindicalistas sin Fronteras ISCOD UGT SinergiaTIC
Solidaridad Internacional Andalucia UKRAID
Sweden
AirClim
Stockholms drug users union
The National Organization for Relatives to Drug Users (NORD)
International organisations
Access Now ActionAid Alliance2015
Benzo Research Project Bridge 47
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) Coalition For Women In Journalism
Democracy International FICEMEA aisbl
FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) Europe Global Forum for Media Development
Humanists International INCHES Network InterAgency Institute
International Alliance of Women
International Partnership for Human RIghts (IPHR) Make Mothers Matter
Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE)
Mossy Earth
Naturfreunde Internationale NGO Shipbreaking Platform Protection International Statewatch
Terre des Hommes International Federation WFIPP
Women Press Freedom
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Albania
Albanian Human Rights Group – AHRG Association of Journalists of Albania Beyond Barriers Association
Regional Development Agency (RDA)
Armenia
ARé Cultural Foundation
Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment NGO
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Center for Environment / FOE Bosnia and Herzegovina Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Banjaluka
PROI
THE BH Journalists Association / BH NOVINARI
Georgia
CENN (Caucasus Environement NGO Network)
FCTC Implementation and Monitoring Center in Georgia
Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Moldova
Eco-TIRAS International Association of River Keepers Terra-1530
Union for Equity and Health
Montenegro
NGO Juventas
North Macedonia
HOPS – Healthy Options Project Skopje
Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers Macedonian Respiratory Society
Norway
Electronic Frontier Norway
Serbia
GS KUM Nezavisnost
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia Initiative for Development and Cooperation
Türkiye
Association of Journalists (GC) Human Rights Foundation of Turkey
Ukraine
NGO “Advocacy Center LIFE”
United Kingdom
Child Rights International Network (CRIN) Conflict and Environment Observatory
[1] For-profit corporate lobbying in Brussels is off the charts compared to advocacy of not-for-profit organisations. In 2024, the 50 corporations with the largest lobbying budgets collectively spent nearly €200 million on lobbying the EU alone (66% more than in 2015), played a decisive role in weakening or discarding many vital policies within the European Green Deal, public health and natural resources for future generations.