NGOs and lobbyists

Subject: NGOs and lobbyists

The Commission will spend more than EUR 11 billion of taxpayers’ money subsidising NGOs during this parliamentary term. The Commission clearly attaches great importance to these organisations, though in many cases it is unclear to whom they are truly accountable. NGOs implementing the Muslim Brotherhood’s agenda can continue to enjoy the generosity with which the Commission distributes funds.

A number of NGOs are part of networks with headquarters abroad. In addition, some NGOs benefiting from Commission grants are also registered as lobbyists in the Transparency Register. This is extremely worrying: It is common knowledge that NGOs carry considerable weight in the decisions made by the Commission and other institutions but the Commission paying for it to be influenced using taxpayers’ money is a matter of utmost concern. This is no less than an institutionalised conflict of interest.

1. What measures has the Commission taken during this parliamentary term to stop subsidies to NGOs that are at the same time listed on the lobby register?

2. What amounts has the Commission reclaimed this parliamentary term from NGOs that receive grants from the Commission while registered in the lobby register?

3. With what measures will the Commission reverse the shift of power from voters to NGOs without democratic legitimacy?

Submitted: 18.9.2023

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the European Commission

(13 September 2024)

As the Commission noted in its reply to E-002168/23 (1), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are subject to the same general rules on EU funding as any other entity.

There are no specific eligibility criteria in the Financial Regulation (2) or in relevant sectoral basic acts prohibiting funding to organisations involved in outreach activities and considered compliant with the relevant rules.

Eligibility criteria for applicants of EU funding are established focusing on the objectives of the action and following the principles of transparency and non-discrimination. More specific eligibility criteria may be also added.

Financial actors involved in budget implementation are also required to take appropriate measures to prevent and address situations of conflict of interests, including for reasons involving political affinity, economic interest or any other direct or indirect personal interest.

The Financial Regulation provides for an extensive protection of EU’s financial interests, which may lead to measures, such as exclusion, rejection or termination of contracts with entities for illegal or unethical behaviour.

The Commission publishes information on the final recipients of funds in the Commission’s direct management, in the Financial Transparency System (3). As regards the Transparency Register (4), all NGOs who register need to provide financial information for the closed financial year.

The directive (5) in the proposed Defence of Democracy package establishes harmonised rules to ensure a high level of transparency and democratic accountability across the EU for entities, including NGOs, representing interests of a third country.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-002168-ASW_EN.html

2 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32018R1046

3 ∙ ⸱ The annual publications are based on Article 38 of the Financial Regulation (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1-222) https://ec.europa.eu/budget/financial-

transparency-system/index.html 4 ∙ ⸱

https://transparency-register.europa.eu/searchregister-or-update/search-register_en 5 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2023%3A637%3AFIN