We call on the rest of the CONT committee see this for the threat it is and to not let amendments attacking civil society and youth vote proceed. Young people deserve to have their voices heard and to be informed about elections!

Brussels, 11.03.2025

• In a draft Report by the CONT-Committee in the European Parliament, an amendment made by MEPs of the ECR group: “Deplores the funding provided in 2023 by the European Parliament to pro-integration activist organisations such as the Young European Federalists and  other pro-EU activists.”
• It’s part of a troubling trend over the last months of casting doubt on the integrity of civil society organisations and activists, at the EU level as well as in the member states.
• Under the guise of transparency, their funding sources are being investigated, suggesting they may be mouthpieces for EU institutions and governments due to their heavy reliance on such funding, or even foreign agents.
• These accusations can have serious consequences on the ability of civil society organisations to procure funding.
• JEF Europe therefore condemns this attack against activists and civil society actors and calls on the MEPs to prevent this rapport to go through the Committee.

In recent months, civil society organizations have faced increased scrutiny. Members of the European People’s Party and the far right in the European Parliament accused the Commission of funding environmental NGOs to lobby for its Green Deal legislation and demanded public disclosure of contracts with these NGOs for transparency. They specifically targeted NGOs receiving LIFE funding. German EPP lawmaker Monika Holmeier and CONT-Committee chair Niclas Herbst played key roles in this issue and are now pushing for more NGO regulation. Meanwhile, in Germany, the CDU party called for the disclosure of funding sources for over 500 NGOs that protested against the party and its leader, Friedrich Merz, following a controversial vote with the far-right AFD.

Now three members of the ECR- group in the Parliament, Dick Erixon, Charlie Weimers and Beatrice Timgren, added the following, troubling amendment 51 a. to the 2023 discharge report on the general budget of the EU drafted by the CONT-Committee: “Deplores the funding provided in 2023 by the European Parliament to pro-integration activist organisations such as  the Young European Federalists and  other pro-EU activists; notes with concern that this spending in many cases was intended to get a specific pro-European segment of the electorate (the youth) to go to the polls at the European Elections in 2024;”

“This amendment is part of a troubling and dangerous trend across the EU— under the guise of transparency, activism is framed as undue influence because its work challenges certain political ideologies and agendas. It aims at discrediting not only JEF’s work, but the work of all pro-European organisations that fight for a more inclusive value-based Europe  and inform and empower European citizens”, states Christelle Savall, President of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe).

Additionally, we fear that it will make it harder for NGOs, that depend on funding either by the Commission or other public sources, to receive them if they are associated with these types of accusations, leading to the potential disappearance of smaller organisations. 

“By targeting the youth and youth organisations, this amendment expresses a blatant disregard of their interests and importance and seeks to actively exclude the voice and perspective of young people in European democracy. All that it accomplishes is the further disillusionment of the youth towards Europe”, deplores Kati Systä, Board Member of JEF Europe.

We as JEF regard this amendment as an undermining and censorship attempt not only on our work, but on all pro-European youth organisations that work tirelessly to further deepen European integration and call on the members of the CONT-Committee to oppose this and all amendments casting suspicion on NGOs. 

About JEF Europe

The Young European Federalists (JEF) Europe is a non-partisan youth NGO with 10,000 members active in over 35 countries. The organisation strives towards a federal Europe based on the principles of democracy and subsidiarity as well as respect for human rights. JEF promotes true European Citizenship, and works towards more active participation of young people in democratic life. While the umbrella organisation JEF Europe was founded in 1972, its sections have been operating continuously since the end of the Second World War, making it the oldest pro-European and only federalist youth organisation.

Since 2006, JEF Europe has organised an annual “Free Belarus” action to draw attention across Europe to the authoritarian regime of Aleksander Lukashenka, commonly referred to as Europe’s last dictator. There has been democratic backsliding across the continent since then, and so JEF’s Free Belarus action broadened into the campaign ‘Democracy under Pressure’ in which JEF Europe calls out abuses of human rights and the rule of law.

Contact

Christelle Savall
President
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
president@jef.eu

Kati Systä
Executive Board Member
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
kati.systa@jef.eu