A new analysis by Alberto Alemanno for EUobserver reveals that policies originally intended for transparency are being weaponized across Europe to dismantle independent civil society. Under the guise of simplification, governments and EU institutions are imposing heavy burdens, with national laws (e.g., in Hungary and Slovakia) classifying EU funds as a form of foreign influence. For CSOs, this is an orchestrated effort to weaken advocacy work, forcing NGOs into service-provider roles through major funding cuts and new grant conditions. Civil society groups must be aware that these political pressures, stigmatization, and financial uncertainty threaten their vital democratic functions, such as monitoring rights and enforcing protections. Read more here.
Source: EU observer
