EU: Don’t Silence the Voices Fighting for Our Environment

Why is this important?

€1.3 BILLION. That’s how much corporate giants like Shell, Exxon, Bayer, and others spend on lobbying in Brussels every year. [1] Before we even hear about new policies, corporate lobbyists are already shaping EU decisions to protect their profits.

Thankfully, there are groups that fight back and amplify citizens’ voices in EU policymaking. They operate on shoestring budgets compared to big business lobbies [2] —and now, many of them risk losing vital EU funds.

The European Commission wants to stop environmental organisations from using EU funding to advocate for citizens’ interests in the halls of power. [3] This would bar them from sending letters, organizing meetings, or providing materials to influence EU institutions, leaving them without the tools needed to hold the EU accountable. Meanwhile, corporate lobbyists will tighten their grip unchecked.

If this funding is cut, it would silence those who put people and the planet first, making it even harder to tackle Europe’s biggest environmental challenges. 

This isn’t the first time the EU has tried to defund organisations that represent citizens. In 2021, the Commission attempted to slash funding for health NGOs, but strong resistance from the affected groups, supported by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), forced them to back down. [4]

Vocal opposition worked in 2021, and together, we can do it again to protect groups standing up for nature. Environmental organisations are already pushing back, but EU leaders will be more likely to listen if thousands of Europeans speak up. [5] Tell your representatives: we won’t let them silence the voices fighting for our planet!

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