Today, the European Parliament’s centre-right political group, the European People’s Party (EPP), has teamed up with the far-right political groups to establish a committee working group to scrutinise NGOs. In doing so, they have decided to follow the playbooks of authoritarian regimes and further institutionalise their attacks on civil society. They clearly found inspiration from Hungary’s nefarious Sovereign Protection Office, which has been used to target our national chapter and independent media.
Progressive and liberal forces refused to support today’s decision. Instead, the EPP has shamefully relied on votes from the extreme right, continuing the so-called centre’s collaboration with political groups actively seeking to destroy European values. Despite these continued attacks, there is no evidence, as shown by the European Court of Auditors itself, that EU funds have been misused by NGOs.
Nick Aiossa, Director at Transparency International EU, reacted:
“This working group is nothing but a vehicle for the EPP and far right to continue their attacks on NGOs and civil society. In the absence of any wrongdoing, it is clear this working group is a political farce. The progressive groups in Parliament should boycott this Orbán-inspired body before it wrecks further damage on the EU’s civil society.”
