transparency
Deals with activists? EU Commission defends itself against criticism
Has the European Commission paid environmental associations with tax money for lawsuits and campaigns against German companies? The EU Commission defends itself against media reports on payments to NGOs.
The EU Commission defends itself against media reports that the Brussels authority is said to have secretly made deals with environmental activists. “Even if it is just said in some media: There are no” secret contracts “between the European Commission and NGOs,” said a commission spokesman.
Media report on close cooperation with NGOs
The “Welt am Sonntag” had previously reported that the EU Commission is said to have paid environmental associations for campaigns against German companies. Brussels officials and activists would have coordinated in detail in order to convince the public of the EU’s climate policy. The newspaper spoke of secret contracts that were viewed.
The topic was intensively processed with the European Parliament in February, the EU Commission’s spokesman continued. Non -governmental organizations (NGOs) would belong to a democratic system and play an important role in the design, monitoring and enforcement of legal regulations.
In order to strengthen the partnership with NGOs, new guidelines have been published for more efficient allocation of financial aid. At the same time, funding should no longer be made for activities that could be understood as targeted lobbying to commission members or EU members.
dpa
Source: Stern
