The European People’s Party (EPP) has raised concerns over the use of EU public funds to finance environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that lobby Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the European Commission.
Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin admitted that some funding from the EU’s €5.4 billion LIFE environmental programme may have been “inappropriately allocated”, acknowledging that it was “inappropriate” for Commission services to enter agreements that required NGOs to target lawmakers directly. While the Commission claims it has since rectified the issue, the controversy has ignited broader debates about lobbying and transparency in EU policymaking.
German MEP Monika Hohlmeier, who initiated the inquiry, accused the Commission’s environment department (DG ENVI) of misusing taxpayer funds to support NGOs campaigning against EU policies, including agricultural interests and trade agreements. However, critics argue that singling out environmental groups is unfair, given that EU funds also support other lobbying efforts, such as farmer protests.
Left-wing MEP Jonas Sjöstedt accused Hohlmeier of hypocrisy, highlighting her ties to BayWa, a company that has benefited significantly from EU subsidies.
In response, Hohlmeier defended her position, insisting the real issue is the “serious mishandling of EU funds.” The European Court of Auditors is set to release a report on NGO funding in June, though its investigation does not cover the Brussels-based groups at the heart of this political dispute.
Image credit: Guillaume Périgois
So instead of publicly funded Enviromental NGOs directly lobbying MEPs they will retain independent lobbists to directly lobbying MEPs with public funding.