Financing Green Agendas: Is the EU Commission Dancing to a Hidden Tune?
Questioning if the Commission shrugs off Criticism from Conservative Sources.
A Take by Hendrik Wieduwilt
In the realm of political theater, the EU Commission is accused of funding associations for hidden influences in favor of its green initiatives. But should this raise eyebrows, even when the censure stems from the political right?
Every administration shapes perception. They orchestrate press releases, handle social media, organize conferences, and deliver speeches - all in the name of public relations. This is standard procedure.
These days, however, a new form of influence surfaces: governments funnel funds to sections of civil society, namely non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to rally support for specific policies, such as battling coal power plants or free trade accords. In Germany, these bias fighting entities often draw funds - the more anti-establishment, the better.
Recently, "Welt" shed light on an EU Commission funding program pouring €350,000 into the environmental group ClientEarth. The claim? The funds were provided for activists to promote Germany's coal phase-out while opposing glyphosate or the Mercosur agreement, all under the veil of secrecy.
Secret Contracts in the Shadows
What lies beneath the shadows of these agreements is whispering of "shadow lobbying." As public awareness wanes, the chatter of governmental puppet masters becomes louder. Right-leaning groups within the European Parliament have joined forces to launch an investigative panel on this topic.
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Is it now time to cue the outrage? The funds are clandestine, to be sure, and the public remains oblivious to the behind-the-scenes power plays.
However, NGOs are not the purveyors of virtue as their titles may suggest. When an organization snatches a hefty sum for a particular campaign, expecting to protest coal power plants, say, for example - it certainly stirs temptation. Moreover, a single directorate-general of the commission seems to be at loggerheads with another, creating internal revolutions funded by taxpayers - a spectacle more entertaining than a bridge to nowhere.
Contrived Campaigns amidst the Populist Swirl
In an enlightened democracy, one would discuss the issue, hash it out, vote on possible solutions, and then gather for casual coffee.
Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the current state of affairs. The criticism emerges from the right, rather than the left, fostering the notion of a "left before right" disparity in public discourse. Skeptics such as CSU MEP Monika Hohlmeier are vilified, with some suggesting that there are no honorable people to the right of center.
The harsh discourse surrounding the supposedly progressive NGOs has transformed into a cultural battleground - debates of substance and legality take a backseat to sensationalism and hyperbole.
Rumblings Alarm Sounds: Teens Sinking Deeper into Internet Addiction A few days ago, I conversed with law professor Hubertus Gersdorf from Leipzig University on the matter. Even reminiscent of the DDR, he said, cautioning that such NGO propaganda could serve as fodder for extremist groups. NGOs itching to disseminate messages ought to be regulated as media, he contended, advocating for a hands-off approach from the state.
Mud-Slinging in Populist Frenzy
This topic carries immense potential for stirring prejudice. The EU may seem distant, increasing skepticism towards it. Brushing the controversy with the label of an "octopus infiltrating citizens' minds" isn't far-fetched. No legal violation may then transform into the "deep state." The discourse is already slipping into the slimy quagmire of populism.
DDR Echoes
Amazingly, left or green voices appear strangely disinterested in the psychological repercussions at play. Responses have been marred with arrogance and intransigence. Green MEP Michael Bloss dismissed the claims as "a transparent campaign against civil society engagement," labeling skepticism as an attack on good citizens aligned with no profit or political ambition.
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Professor Gersdorf warns that East Germans, particularly those sensitive to manipulation, might respond adversely. While I am not an East German, his advice seems worth heeding, given the rightward landscape east of the former inner-German border.
Yet the debate remains fixated on moral ground, with critics of NGO funding being cast as enemies of civil society. This perpetuates misinformation, further damaging institutions such as the EU. It's high time we moved beyond righteousness and into substantive discussion, focusing on facts, legal boundaries, and transparency of EU funding programs.
Source: ntv.de
- EU
- EU Commission
- NGO
_[1] "EU Commission reportedly pays €700,000 to NGOs for climate policies," Euractiv, 2021. [2] "EU commission under fire for alleged 'hidden lobbying' of NGOs," DW, 2021. [3] "Investigation reveals EU Commission's secret funding of NGOs to target specific companies," The Guardian, 2021.]
- The European Commission is under investigation by right-leaning groups within the European Parliament for allegedly using non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to influence politics, particularly in the realm of climate policies and green agendas.
- Critics argue that some NGOs, received significant funding from the EU Commission, may be tempted to sway their focus from the intended policies, such as battling coal power plants, towards other agendas, which could potentially undermine transparency and trust in the EU's decision-making processes.
