Independent civil society organisations across Europe are warning of growing pressure that threatens democratic accountability and public-interest protections. Once key partners in shaping policies on health, the environment and social rights, many groups now face defunding, smear campaigns and shrinking civic space. Recent EU funding cuts have forced health NGOs to scale back, while environmental organisations have been targeted by disinformation and political attacks. In the European Parliament, some groups have called for stricter scrutiny of NGO funding, while corporate lobbying remains far more prevalent, two-thirds of high-level Commission meetings involve business representatives, compared to a small share with NGOs. Read more here.
Source: EU Observer
