Recent European Commission policy guidelines barring NGOs from using EU funds for advocacy work are a profound threat to democracy and civil society’s role in policymaking. CINEA, the agency that deals with funding for all kinds of environmental projects financed by the LIFE programme on behalf of the EC has requested NGOs to review 2024 grant contracts, citing new rules to avoid “reputational risk.” Influenced by the European People’s Party (EPP), these policies are a culmination of years of anti-NGO campaigns aimed at silencing criticism and promoting corporate interests, tipping the lobbying balance further in favor of powerful corporations. With vague and broadly defined restrictions, the guidelines create a chilling effect, deterring NGOs from engaging in advocacy and limiting their ability to challenge policies. This suppression of critical voices not only exacerbates existing imbalances in EU lobbying but also risks undermining public trust and democratic accountability in decision-making, effectively imposing a “gag order” on civil society. Read more here.
Source: EU Observer