The European Commission has moved ahead with the “Directive on Transparency of Interest Representation on Behalf of Third Countries” despite fierce opposition from European civil society since its unveiling in 2023. Despite claims that it aims to increase transparency, critics argue it resembles foreign agent laws seen elsewhere, posing a threat to civil society and the media both within and beyond the EU’s borders. The directive requires a public register of entities funded by non-EU governments, potentially leading to stigmatization and bureaucratic harassment. Critics fear it could suppress dissent and erode freedoms. The EU’s pursuit undermines its stance against such laws globally, questioning its commitment to democracy and rights. Russia’s 2012 foreign agent law is a notable example, closing many independent organizations. Such laws are spreading in Europe and Central Asia; recent adopters or those who moved forward with the legislation include Georgia, BiH, France, Kyrgyzstan, and Slovakia. The EU has denounced many of these laws as authoritarian and incompatible with its values, but the EU’s proposal is fundamentally no different. Read more here.
Source: Balkan Insight