EU funds for NGOs: scandal for lack of transparency and control!

EU funds for NGOs: scandal for lack of transparency and control!

The European Court of Auditors sharply criticized the allocation of EU funds to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in a new special report. Between 2021 and 2023, over 12,000 NGOs received more than 7 billion euros from EU funds, but the information about these funding is classified as incomplete and unreliable. These defects in transparency not only make it difficult to analyze the use of funds, but also raise fundamental questions to comply with EU values.

The criticism is carried out against the background of the increased public interest in more transparency requirements for NGOs, in particular since the so-called "Katargate" scandal in 2022. In this context, many actors see the need to examine the financial relationships between the EU and NGOs more precisely. The report of the Court of Auditors, above all, addresses the lack of controls regarding compliance with these values ​​by the funded organizations and the defective disclosure of lobbying activities that are operated by the financed NGOs.

lack of transparency and control

The critics, including Laima Andrikienė, a member of the European Court of Auditors, emphasize that the current information policy of the EU Commission is not sufficient. Despite certain progress in the information collection, there is a lack of clear guidelines and controls. An instruction from the Commission only came to light during the exams, which says that recipients of EU funds are not obliged to operate lobbying. This ambiguity could have serious consequences for the credibility of the affected NGOs and the entire EU.

The report notes that there is no uniform definition for NGOs in the individual EU countries. In 2024, a definition was determined as an independent non -profit organizations, but this does not cover any comprehensive criteria to check the status of the organizations. As a result, some NGOs can fall into the category that does not correspond to the spirit of the EU values.

political arguments in the European Parliament

In the European Parliament, a dispute over the fairness and transparency of the awarding of funds on NGOs has been breaking down in the European Parliament for some time. The EPP parliamentary group, including members of the CDU and CSU, criticizes the practice and expresses concerns that EU funds are used to undermine the rule of law. Monika Hohlmeier from the CSU demanded stricter control. According to it, some NGOs cause worrying developments and may violate the basic values ​​that the EU represents.

In contrast, the affected NGOs show all allegations and emphasize that there are no evidence of abuse or violations of the rule. Daniel Freis from the Greens expressed that the conservative majority in parliament conduct a targeted campaign against civil society, which in particular could suppress the voices of organizations in the field of climate protection and social participation.