The hearing marks the start of a special working group in the European Parliament. In the coming months, this group will conduct research into subsidy contracts between Brussels and NGOs.
Secret documents, which De Telegraaf previously revealed, show that the European Commission, for example, subsidized environmental clubs to lobby in the European Parliament for the Green Deal of European Commissioner Frans Timmermans.
The European Court of Auditors followed EU money for food aid to Africa and saw mixed results: ‘Money to unused motorcycle and flat-screen televisions’
Other media have revealed that the European Commission gave subsidy money to an NGO to lobby against a free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries, while the Commission itself is making a lot of effort to find support for this from the Member States.
Subsidy for lawsuits against Member States
Dutch MEP Dirk Gotink, a member of the working group, states that there are even contracts in which subsidy money has been used by environmental clubs to bring lawsuits against member states.
The NSC politician demanded clarification on this on Wednesday: “The Commission must be aware of this or, in the worst case, they were even involved. That would be very bad. If a Member State does not comply with EU law, the Commission can go to court itself, no third parties are needed for that.”
Millions in support
The European Commission has previously decided to introduce stricter rules for subsidy contracts. The European Parliament’s investigation is currently examining 100 contracts with environmental clubs. It concerns millions of euros of taxpayers’ money. The working group later wants to focus on subsidies for the migration lobby.
According to Gotink, no illegal practices have been discovered so far. He especially hopes that lessons will be learned for negotiations on the future EU budget. If the Dutch representative has his way, all these types of subsidy deals will become public in the future.
Timmermans is not coming
Former European Commissioner Timmermans is also scheduled for Wednesday’s hearing in Strasbourg. But the recently resigned GL/PvdA leader has not responded to the invitation. In the past he has denied direct involvement in providing subsidies to environmental clubs. The left-wing parties in the European Parliament are boycotting the investigation into the subsidies. The left flank fears a crusade against NGOs.