Growing concerns are emerging over the future of EU support for civil society after reports revealed that several established pro-European think tanks and advocacy organisations have lost operating grants under the European Commission’s CERV programme. Organisations such as the European Policy Centre, the Jacques Delors Institute, and the Robert Schuman Foundation are among those affected, following pressure campaigns by Eurosceptic and illiberal actors accusing EU-funded organisations of promoting “EU propaganda”. At the same time, state-backed groups such as MCC Brussels continue expanding their influence with significant financial backing and fewer accountability requirements. Civil society actors warn that reducing support for advocacy and democratic participation risks weakening the very organisations defending EU values, democratic standards, and civic space at a time of growing political polarization and democratic backsliding across Europe. Read more here.
Source: The Good lobby