The European Commission is at the heart of a serious image crisis. EU funds for climate protection were to go to NGOs supporting the Green Deal policy, as revealed. any of the measures, according to critics, were misused, serving lobbying activities and suppressing opposition voices against EU climate policy.
Climate funds in the hands of activists?
The full case concerns the EU programme LIFEwith a budget of over EUR 9 billion since 2014. Its aim is to support environmental, biodiversity and climate change projects. However, according to the disclosure, any of these measures went to NGOs lobbying for the Green Deal – the European Commission's flagship project.
According to media reports, LIFE was to finance information campaigns and actions supporting a circumstantial political narrative. The nonsubjective of these activities was to advance Green Deal and to reduce the impact of groupings critical of European Union climate policy.
The Commission acknowledges: erstwhile fraud
In its authoritative position, the European Commission acknowledged that there were "inadequate lobbying activities". The consequence announced changes in the award procedures and increased supervision of climate funds expenditure. However, no names of the organisations to commit fraud or the persons liable for the irregularity were identified.
The deficiency of concrete clearing activities has raised criticism of any politicians and public opinion. The Commission is accused of being non-transparent, of being unresponsible, and of acting under the cover of the fight against climate change.
Charges against the erstwhile Climate Commissioner
At the centre of controversy was erstwhile Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans, known for his tough attitude towards countries opposed to Green Deal. According to any reports, it was to coordinate agreements with NGOs, which contained detailed guidelines for lobbying campaigns.
Although he has not been proven to be straight active in irregularities, the very fact that the EU institutions are combined with specified actions is very emotional. Opposition politicians to the Green Deal show that this could be part of a broader strategy to advance a circumstantial climate policy direction without democratic debate.
Political Storm and Unanswered Questions
Green Deal critics have for years pointed to the disproportionate influence of NGOs in shaping EU climate policy. Irregularities in the LIFE programme can become a turning point in the discussion on the transparency of the European Commission's actions and on the direction of the energy transition in Europe.
There are besides questions about whether and which Polish organizations could usage these funds in a way incompatible with their purpose. There are no clear answers yet. The Commission did not make the full list of beneficiaries available, nor did it address allegations of political exploitation of public funds.
What about the Green Deal?
The substance may have serious political consequences, especially in the context of the upcoming elections to the European Parliament. The Green Deal, which has so far been 1 of the priorities of the Ursula von der Leyen Commission, has been caught up in criticism not only for economical reasons but besides due to its methods of promoting it.
In order to regain public confidence, the Commission will gotta prove that Union funds are spent transparently and in line with the objectives set out in the budget. Otherwise, the debate on Green Deal could turn into a serious crisis of assurance towards the full EU administration.
Source: Visegrad24
