Global green civil society faces political attacks and funding restrictions from EU bodies and right-wing groups.
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Global green civil society organizations face continuous campaigns, including from Hungarian propaganda, which claim environmental advocacy serves migrant interests or threatens Western civilization. These groups argue their work aligns with Brussels’ legislation and addresses climate change and circular economy goals, often competing against well-funded fossil fuel and energy lobbies. In response to this competitive environment, the European Commission proposed restricting civil organizations from using revenues from the LIFE program—a major environmental funding source—for EU legislative lobbying efforts, affecting an annual non-repayable grant of €14.5 million. The Commission cited “reputational risks,” encouraging groups to focus on influencing policymakers through workshops rather than direct lobbying.
Various political factions within the European Parliament are debating the financing of green lobbying. Some right-wing and populist members echo sentiments similar to those of the Trump administration, advocating for rejecting environmental goals that conflict with business interests. Conversely, other MEP groups express concern over the Commission’s guidelines, arguing they undermine institutional respect, transparency, and accountability. Proponents of civil society argue that restricting funding is nonsensical, as support terms are negotiated transparently, and that large corporations already dominate lobbying efforts.
Civil organizations counter accusations by stating their work does not violate the principle of separation of powers when receiving EU funds. They also point out that the Commission itself utilizes civil society for advocacy on issues outside its core mandate. While some national responses suggest restrictions might only affect Brussels-based groups, organizations like Transport & Environment maintain that LIFE funding allows them to conduct independent and credible lobbying without dependency on other funders, noting their annual budget of €15.6 million is significantly smaller than the largest multinational corporations’ spending. Overall, there is widespread concern across Europe regarding these restrictive measures and campaigns against civil society.
