EU Commission's confidential pacts with NGOs:Strategies to combat coal, pesticides, and Mercosur trade deals revealed
Exposed: EU Commission's Secret Deals with Green Gangs
There's a storm brewing in Brussels as a shocking report by WELT AM SONNTAG exposes a shadowy dance between the EU Commission and environmental NGOs. These supposed 'allies' are rumored to be raking in up to €700,000 each to lobby against coal power, pesticides, and the Mercosur deal.
The Commission brushes off these allegations, denying any existence of "secret agreements." However, this scandal casts a grim light on hidden lobbying that jeopardizes the balance of power in the European Union.
Now, let's dig a little deeper.
You've probably heard of ClientEarth and Friends of the Earth Europe – some big players in the environmental activism scene. These influential lobbies are said to be heavily bankrolled by the EU Commission to push for climate policy changes, amidst murmurs of silent war on German coal-fired power plants and the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
Notably, Welt am Sonntag claims that these contracts are under wraps, and the funds are to be used not just for advocacy but also to fund legal actions against corporations.
However, the Commission insists that all funding is handled through principled and regulated processes, such as the EU LIFE programme. Meanwhile, affected NGOs stress their autonomy and transparency, with their grant agreements subject to rigorous evaluation.
Some political factions, like the European People’s Party, are up in arms, accusing the Commission of leveraging NGOs to promote specific policies under the Green Deal. Critics call this a form of clandestine lobbying, where public funds are discreetly used to influence policy behind the scenes.
Despite desperate efforts to protect their image, both the Commission and the NGOs involved have come under intense scrutiny for potential shadow lobbying. The focus is on alleged instances where NGOs are paid to advocate for specific policies and even seek legal action against private companies.
In summary, while media reports claim the existence of secret contracts, the Commission and NGOs argue that all funding is handled transparently and subject to strict oversight. The debate surrounding the role of civil society in EU governance and the line between justified advocacy and presumed shadow lobbying continues to rage on.
What policies and legislation are being influenced by these alleged secret deals between the EU Commission and environmental NGOs, such as ClientEarth and Friends of the Earth Europe, in the realm of politics and general news?
Is the EU Commission's policy-and-legislation stance on issues like coal-fired power plants, pesticides, and the EU-Mercosur trade agreement being impacted by secret funded advocacy and legal action from these environmental NGOs, as suggested by the latest revelations?
