Systematic branding of NGOs as questionable, as asserted by Patrick Lefas, President of Transparency International France.
In a series of developments, the European People's Party (EPP) has found itself at the centre of controversy, with critics questioning its actions and motives.
Recent events have seen the EPP establish a parliamentary monitoring group to investigate alleged 'shadow lobbying' in connection with the Green Deal. This move has raised concerns about the politicization of investigations within the EU. The EPP's actions against two former commissioners are seen as politically motivated, with accusations of orchestrated secret lobbying levelled against them. However, these accusations were refuted by a report from the European Court of Auditors.
The EPP's collaboration with a tax group close to the far right to file several criminal complaints against the two former commissioners has not gone unnoticed. This collaboration, coupled with the initial support the monitoring group received from the far right, has further fuelled suspicions of politically motivated actions.
Elsewhere, the conviction of Greenpeace in a North Dakota court for defamation against the operator of an American oil pipeline has raised eyebrows. The organisation was ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. The decision, which appears as much a financial penalty as a warning, has sparked concerns about the very survival of environmental NGOs, with the conviction putting Greenpeace at risk in the United States.
The misuse of law to silence public debate has also been a topic of discussion, with TotalEnergies' lawsuit against Greenpeace France following a report on its emissions serving as a prime example.
Meanwhile, the European People's Party's actions have been criticized for deflecting attention from the Qatargate scandal. Official development assistance fell by 7.1% compared to 2023, according to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with entire segments of independent civil society risking disappearing at this rate.
The U.S. Agency for International Development was eliminated by Donald Trump at the start of his second term, further highlighting the challenges faced by civil society and environmental organisations. In France, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) are a major issue, with these lawsuits often used to silence critics and stifle debate.
As the EPP continues to face scrutiny, it remains to be seen how these events will unfold and what impact they will have on the EU and its civil society.
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