Brussels/Skopje – June 23, 2025 – As the European Parliament debates “transparency” in NGO funding, civil society organizations across the continent, including those tirelessly working for democratic progress in the Western Balkans, are bracing for impact. The Conference of Presidents’ (a political body within the EU Parliament) decision to establish a working group to scrutinize NGO funding, led by the European People’s Party and supported by the ECR and far-right Patriots for Europe, is raising alarm bells.
Is this “transparency” or a convenient smokescreen? While the stated aim is to ensure the proper use of EU funds, the timing and political alignment of this initiative feel suspiciously familiar to those of us in the Western Balkans who have seen similar “transparency” drives weaponized against independent voices. It begs the question: Are we truly addressing financial oversight, or are we just hunting for NGOs that dare to speak truth to power and hold governments accountable? This move echoes concerning trends in the Western Balkans, where governments are increasingly enacting laws to stigmatize civil society organizations, limit their access to funding, and suppress independent voices, often by controlling public funding and excluding CSOs from meaningful policymaking. This aligns with the “enacting laws that stigmatize CSOs, limiting access to funding” mentioned in the BCSDN brief.
When the EU targets watchdogs, who guards the guardians in the Western Balkans? At a time when democratic backsliding and external influences are pressing concerns in our region, a strong civil society is not a luxury, but a necessity. This move by the European Parliament risks undermining the very organizations that are crucial partners in our journey towards EU integration, effectively weakening the democratic checks and balances precisely when they are needed most. The policy brief by the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) further underscores that shrinking civic space in the Western Balkans is a critical issue, highlighting how governments are restricting media freedom and using various pressures to silence civil society organizations. We urge democratic forces within the European Parliament to recognize the chilling effect this will have on civic space, especially in aspiring member states, and stand with citizens, not against them. The narrative of “NGO funding scrutiny” can easily be manipulated by illiberal governments in candidate countries to further stigmatize NGOs as “foreign agents” or “lobbyists,” undermining their legitimacy in the public eye.
A vibrant civil society is a key component of democratic governance and a crucial criterion for EU accession. If EU actions inadvertently weaken civil society in candidate countries, it can paradoxically undermine the very democratic reforms the EU advocates for.
The Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament is composed of President Roberta Metsola, the leaders of the eight political groups, as well as one representative of MEPs who are not members of any group. Still, this representative can’t vote. The Conference is a political body responsible for organizing and coordinating the work of the European Parliament.
About BCSDN:
The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) is a network of member-based civil society support organizations from the Western Balkans and Türkiye, dedicated to strengthening civil society and promoting a vibrant and enabling environment for its development in the region.
Contact:
Toshe Zafirov
Communication and advocacy
Balkan Civil Society Development Network
Email: tzf@balkancsd.net