The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), as a committed member of the European Civic Forum (ECF), stands firmly alongside civil society organizations across Europe in denouncing the European Parliament’s newly established NGO Scrutiny Working Group.
In a joint show of solidarity, we amplify the collective call to boycott this body, rejecting attempts to narrow civic space under the guise of oversight.
In recent months, the NGO Scrutiny Working Group was created within the European Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee (CONT). While ostensibly formed to ensure financial accountability, the initiative has been largely driven by conservative and far-right political forces.
Its mandate disproportionately targets non-governmental organizations—particularly those advocating for environmental protection and human rights—subjecting them to a lens marked by political bias and selective targeting. This politicization threatens to jeopardize the independence of civil society, a cornerstone for democratic governance and accountability in both the EU and the Western Balkans.
Concerns regarding this working group have been further fueled by the misuse of a recent European Court of Auditors (ECA) report on NGO funding transparency. While the ECA report found no evidence of misuse of funds or financial irregularities by NGOs, its findings on administrative transparency are being weaponized to delegitimize advocacy efforts.
The Working Group’s focus is notably discriminatory; it seeks to impose aggressive scrutiny solely on NGOs while ignoring other beneficiaries of EU funds, such as private companies and industry lobbyists. As defenders of democratic values, we reject this double standard.
BCSDN unequivocally echoes the call for transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. However, genuine oversight must never translate into political weaponization used to silence critical voices or delegitimize the vital watchdog role of NGOs.
We fully endorse the position taken by the European Civic Forum, Transparency International EU, and over a hundred other signatories: Democratic scrutiny is essential, but it must be impartial, evidence-based, and non-discriminatory.
The defense of civic freedoms and the safeguarding of an independent civil society are essential not only for the European Union but for the democratic progress of the Western Balkans.
We urge our members and partners in the region to remain vigilant. We must continue to champion these values through solidarity and informed advocacy, ensuring that the “foreign agent” narratives and restrictive measures seen elsewhere do not find validation through these European-level mechanisms.
BCSDN remains united with the European civil society community in boycotting this Working Group and protecting the future of open, accountable governance.