MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU funds to environmental lobbying groups to promote the European Green Deal – E-000838/2025

Question for written answer  E-000838/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Ondřej Knotek (PfE), Klara Dostalova (PfE), Jaroslav Bžoch (PfE), Ondřej Kovařík (PfE), Tomáš Kubín (PfE), Jana Nagyová (PfE), Jaroslava Pokorná Jermanová (PfE)

A recent investigation by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf[1] has uncovered serious irregularities, according to which it is alleged that the Commission allocated substantial EU funds to environmental lobbying groups to promote its own ‘green agenda’.

Furthermore, during Parliament’s Plenary Session of 22 January 2025[2], Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin admitted that ‘it was inappropriate for … the Commission to enter into agreements that oblige NGOs to lobby Members of the European Parliament’.

Given these revelations, could the Commission clarify the following:

• 1.Will the Commission disclose the nature, amount and source of the funds allocated for each legislative proposal that was subject to such an ‘inappropriate practice’, and provide a detailed list of beneficiaries from Czechia, specifying the amounts received by them and the lobbying objectives assigned?
• 2.What measures has the Commission taken, or does it intend to take, to investigate and address the identified irregularities, and how will it ensure the accountability of those responsible for improper or illegal practices, and prevent further conflicts of interest in the EU’s decision-making processes?
• 3.Does the Commission plan to review and/or withdraw the European Green Deal legislation that may have been compromised by the findings revealed by De Telegraaf?

Submitted: 25.2.2025

• [1] Bakker, Alexander, ‘Lobbyschandaal in Brussel: EU betaalde milieuclubs in het geheim voor promotie van groene plannen Timmermans’, De Telegraaf, 22 January 2025, https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1287315486/lobbyschandaal-in-brussel-eu-betaalde-milieuclubs-in-het-geheim-voor-promotie-van-groene-plannen-timmermans.
• [2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-10-2025-01-22-ITM-015_DE.html.