The European Court of Auditors (ECA) published a study which reveals serious shortcomings in the transparency of the European Union's financing of NGOs. In consequence to these findings, the Patriots for Europe (PfE) Group stepped up its run to disclose thousands of contracts concluded by the European Commission with NGOs active in promoting progressive ideologies.
The ECA study indicates that the data management strategy on EU NGO backing is intentionally opaque. Information is dispersed, frequently hidden, incorrectly marked or at all inaccessible, making it “precisely impossible to find reliable data on the flow of funds”.
The Court besides noted that many typically lobbyist organisations are listed in authoritative papers as "non-governmental organisations", even though their activities are clearly political. Moreover, a large proportion of the resources go to a limited number of selected actors, which raises concerns about nepotism and systemic abuse. Between 2021 and 2023, the EU provided a full of EUR 7.4 billion to around 12 000 NGOs. Of this, nearly EUR 3 billion – or 40% of the full – went to just 30 organisations.
In a message published on 9 April, the Patriots for Europe stated that the ECA study was indisputable evidence of the request to immediately disclose all contracts concluded with NGOs.
"Under the cover of 'civil society', we are dealing with a network of political activists, almost entirely financed by EU funds", the Patriots stress.
"Their task is to introduce ideological assumptions of the European Commission: open borders, climate activism, promotion of the LGBT agenda," they added. “We gotta halt this. The Patriot Group in the European Parliament calls for full transparency of contracts concluded with NGOs. Citizens have a right to know what their money is spent on. It is time for the European Commission to start applying the same democratic principles it calls for others to comply with."
The EU's transparency of NGO backing is likely to become 1 of the main points of the run before the forthcoming European elections.
The Patriots Group for Europe (PfE) formally requested the creation of a peculiar committee of enquiry of the European Parliament. The aim of this committee is to have democratic control over corruption and abuse of power in the institutions of the European Union, which, according to the initiators, are systemic beyond any responsibility. The Commission would operate for 12 months and address the most pressing examples of law-breaking, cover-up and circumvention of transparency standards.
The proposal, which went to the Euro MPs of all groups, refers to a number of scandals which have revealed the profoundly rooted problems of the EU strategy for respective years. Among another things, there are scandals specified as Qatargate, Huaweigate, Pfizergate or Reyndersgate. Their common denominator are suspicions of corruption, money laundering, illegal lobbying and abroad influences on the legislative process.
The fresh committee would be named Committee on Transparency and work (TRAC). Its task would be to analyse allegations concerning:
- corruption and money laundering,
- abuse of power,
- interference in the legislative process,
- illegal lobbying (also by EU-funded NGOs),
- violations of the regulation of law and ethical standards by EU MEPs and officials.
The Commission would besides look at the mechanisms for deficiency of transparency in decision-making in Brussels and the alleged "return door" effect, namely transfers between EU institutions and corporate interest groups.
PfE stresses that over 80 of its Members have submitted requests for access to public information on EU backing of NGOs over the last year, no of which have been considered positively. This, in their opinion, shows that the strategy deliberately hides what EU money goes for, and why an independent committee of enquiry is urgently needed.
TRAC would have full powers to:
- call for witnesses (including EU officials),
- browsing classified documents,
- cooperation with national and global law enforcement services,
- organise interrogations and investigative missions.
The Commission would have 38 members. The proportional distribution of seats gives:
- 10 seats of the European People's organization (EPP – von der Leyen faction),
- 7 for Socialists (S&D),
- 5 for the Patriots,
- 4 for ECR,
- 4 for the Liberals of Renew,
- 3 for the Greens,
- 2 for the Left,
- 1 for sovereigns from ESN,
- 2 for the non-attached.
