MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Media reports of opaque funding of non-governmental organisations to promote EU climate policy (cont.) – E-002335/2025

Question for written answer  E-002335/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Anna Bryłka (PfE)

An article in the Welt am Sonntag (cited on 7 June 2025 in Euronews and Politico) reported allegations of certain ‘secret contracts’ between the Commission and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as ‘ClientEarth’ and ‘Friends of the Earth’[1].

According to the article, the Commission provided up to EUR 700 000 to fund actions aimed at promoting EU climate policy, including engaging German coal power plants in legal disputes to increase their legal and financial risks. To fully clarify this issue and ensure public confidence in the Commission’s actions:

• 1.Does the Commission plan to organise an audit or review of grant agreements with NGOs in order to ensure funding is transparent?
• 2.What steps have been taken to investigate all allegations concerning claims that the Commission instructed NGOs to lobby for specific policies under the Green Deal?
• 3.What additional measures does the Commission intend to introduce to increase the transparency of NGO funding and address public concerns regarding this matter?

Submitted: 11.6.2025

• [1] https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/plus256221718/geheime-vertraege-offengelegt-eu-kommission-bezahlte-aktivisten-fuer-klimalobbyismus.html?icid=search.product.onsitesearch.