In fresh days, information has emerged in the public space about a major scandal in the European Commission, revealed among others by Adam Star. According to published data, the institution engaged in lobbying for Green Deal, utilizing public funds. The main controversy is the fact that these measures went to NGOs, which in turn were intended to influence associate States' MEPs and governments.
Lobbing for public money
Adam Star in his entry on the X platform underlines that the European Commission has funded green NGOs to lobby for the Green Deal, a flagship task by erstwhile Commissioner Frans Timmermans. "Scandal in Brussels. The European Commission has paid green NGOs to lobby Euro MPs and associate States for Green Deal, the obsession of erstwhile Dutch Commissioner Frans Timmermans," wrote Star.
In consequence to the disclosure, the fresh Commissioner for the Budget, Piotr Serafin, acknowledged that this practice was "inappropriate". Dirk Gotink, a Dutch Euro MP from the NSC/EPP, commented on the situation with harsh words: "It is simply a lobbying strategy in the shadows that undermines assurance in our institutions."
Documents confirm the scale of the problem
The papers disclosed by the Committee on Budgetary Control show that agreements with NGOs required them to scope concrete Euro MPs and persuade them to support Timmermans' initiatives. Moreover, according to Gotink, Commission officials worked on communication campaigns for the same organisations that were funded from public money.
Monika Hohlmeier (CSU/EPP) noted: "The Commission is exerting force by pretending to be the actions of independent lobbyists." French Euro MP Céline Imart of the LR/EPP added: "While the United States is trying to conquer Mars, the EU is backing NGOs to attack our already broken businesses."
NGOs or Commission tools?
Adam The Star asks questions that are at the heart of the problem: “What kind of non-governmental organization is this, what kind of organization takes money from the Commission, or government? Who are these parliamentarians who approve funds that are utilized to manipulate them themselves?"
Despite Peter Seraphin's designation that the practices were inappropriate, the backing of NGOs remains legal and, as he claimed, "desirable". Interestingly, the left defends these practices, arguing that the problem is not the NGO backing itself, but the fact that only global corporations can afford to lobby on a immense scale. French environmentalist Marie Toussaint stated: “The real scandal is that only global corporations can lobby through their colossal resources.”
What is next with the credibility of the European Commission?
The case has sparked immense controversy, undermining assurance in the European Commission as an institution for transparency and democracy. The papers disclosed show the mechanisms for financing and utilizing NGOs for political purposes, raising questions about the ethical and transparent decision-making process in the EU.
In summary, this case shows the importance of controlling public spending and ensuring that funds are utilized in a democratic manner. Transparency and accountability should become a precedence for the European Commission to reconstruct citizens' confidence.
A scandal in Brussels. The European Commission has paid green NGOs to lobby Euro MPs and associate States for Green Deal, the obsession of erstwhile Dutch Commissioner Frans Timmermans. The fresh budget commissioner Peter Serafin had to... pic.twitter.com/HqJlKoETt6
— Adam Stara (@delestoile) January 23, 2025
Continued here:
The scandal in Brussels! The European Commission has spent tremendous sums on Green Deal lobbying
