EditNGOs: allies or adversaries? EPP’s campaign sparks EU parliament rift
S&D and Renew Europe argue that the EPP’s probe is a thinly veiled attempt to curb NGOs’ influence on EU policymaking
A fierce debate is roiling the European Parliament, pitting the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the chamber’s largest group, against the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and liberal Renew Europe over the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The EPP’s push for greater scrutiny of NGO funding has drawn accusations of a politically motivated attack on civil society, exposing deep divisions among the EU’s key political factions.
The EPP insists its campaign is about ensuring transparency in how NGOs use EU taxpayer funds, alleging that some organisations, indirectly supported by the European Commission, lobby for environmental and migration policies without adequate oversight.
“NGOs play a vital role in EU decision-making, but we’ve seen instances of misconduct that demand accountability,” said German EPP MEP Peter Liese. Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, the EPP’s coordinator on the budgetary control committee, emphasized, “We’re not aligned with far-right extremists. This is about responsible stewardship of public money.”
Critics, however, see a darker motive. The S&D and Renew Europe argue that the EPP’s probe is a thinly veiled attempt to curb NGOs’ influence on EU policymaking, echoing tactics typically associated with far-right populists.
“What began as a troubling trend has become a deliberate assault,” said Mohammed Chahim, S&D vice-president for the Green Deal. “The EPP is targeting civil society to undermine policies like the Green Deal and the Asylum and Migration Pact—policies they themselves endorsed in the last term.”
Chahim pointed out that NGOs’ funding is already transparent under EU financial regulations, a fact corroborated by the European Court of Auditors. Even EPP-nominated Commissioner Piotr Serafin has acknowledged that the Commission values NGOs’ expertise in advising MEPs. “This is a witch-hunt dressed up as a call for transparency,” Chahim added.
Valérie Hayer, leader of Renew Europe, called the EPP’s campaign “deeply alarming” and warned that it risks shrinking the democratic space for NGOs. S&D group chair Iratxe García went further, accusing “right-wing forces” within the EPP of pursuing a broader agenda to erode the Green Deal, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and fundamental freedoms by targeting NGOs that champion these causes.
The EPP Group retorted by saying that not enough was being done to end secrecy around NGO financing. “This is a long-standing scandal that we have been denouncing for a long time. The European Commission must not secretly fund NGOs to lobby the European Parliament or to lobby against its legislative proposals,” stated on Wednesday Zdechovský, after a vote earlier on the same day on the European Commission’s Budget Discharge.
“The EPP Group will push for further and stronger action. NGOs which receive public money must be subject to public scrutiny. We want to systematically look into the contracts between the European Commission and NGOs,” explained Niclas Herbst MEP, the Parliament’s lead negotiator on the European Commission’s Discharge for 2023.
A shifting political landscape
The EPP’s scrutiny of NGOs comes amid a surge of populist and autocratic trends across the EU, notably in Hungary and Slovakia, where governments have cracked down on civil society. The campaign’s ripple effects are particularly pronounced in newer EU member states and candidate countries, where democratic institutions are more fragile. In Romania and Bulgaria, for instance, NGOs advocating for anti-corruption and judicial reforms face growing hostility from nationalist governments, emboldened by the EPP’s rhetoric. In Western Balkan candidate countries like Serbia and Montenegro, where EU integration hinges on democratic progress, anti-NGO campaigns risk undermining civil society’s role in monitoring elections and human rights, potentially stalling accession talks. This trend threatens to weaken the EU’s commitment to democratic values in its periphery, amplifying the influence of populist narratives.
The re-election of Donald Trump in the United States has further emboldened antiNGO movements, with populist rhetoric gaining traction in EU capitals and Brussels. German Green MEP Daniel Freund described the EPP’s actions as a “Trumpification” of the party, noting similar patterns at national levels. “The EPP is adopting a playbook that vilifies NGOs to score political points,” he said.
Trump’s 2025 executive actions provide a stark parallel. On 6 February, he signed a memo ordering a review of all U.S. federal funding to NGOs, aiming to defund those deemed contrary to “national interests.” This builds on his first-term policies, such as the “global gag rule,” which restricted funding for NGOs involved in reproductive health. Critics argue that Trump’s measures, like the EPP’s campaign, seek to limit civil society’s role in democratic processes under the guise of accountability.
Within the EPP, opinions are divided. While Zdechovský distanced the group from far-right factions like the Patriots for Europe, an anonymous Parliament official suggested that “a worryingly large faction of the EPP is drawn to populist tactics.” This internal tension reflects the EPP’s balancing act: maintaining its centre-right credentials while appealing to voters swayed by nationalist rhetoric.
Defending civil society’s role
The S&D and the Party of European Socialists (PES) have rallied to defend NGOs, emphasizing their legal right to participate in EU policy debates. “NGOs are essential to civil dialogue and the Green Deal’s success,” a PES statement declared. “Targeting them undermines democracy itself.” The S&D also called for equal transparency standards across all EU-funded entities, including corporations and lobbying firms, rather than singling out NGOs.
The controversy has broader implications for the EU’s legislative agenda. The Green Deal, a flagship initiative for climate neutrality by 2050, relies on NGOs for expertise and public engagement. Similarly, the Asylum and Migration Pact, which aims to reform EU migration policy, benefits from civil society input. By questioning NGOs’ legitimacy, the EPP risks alienating allies needed to advance these policies, even as it navigates pressure from its right flank.
As the EU grapples with rising populism and external challenges, the debate over NGOs underscores a fundamental question: are they vital partners in democracy or unchecked influencers in need of restraint? For now, the EPP’s campaign has deepened mistrust among Parliament’s major groups, threatening the unity needed to tackle the EU’s pressing challenges.
Sources: POLITICO, Party of European Socialists, S&D press release, Reuters, The Guardian, Bloomberg, edited by p.p.p.
Caption: File photo. European Grandparents for Climate Action activists protest in front of Parliament to promote a system change in Europe, based upon the full implementation of the Green deal in Brussels, Belgium, 31 May 2024. [EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET]
Updated: May 7, 2025 - 14:08
