On Tuesday 31 January, the European Commission presented its annual report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (see EUROPE 13078/27) to the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE). It calls for increased support, including financial support, for civil society organisations and for guaranteeing their rights.
In response, Alessandra Mussolini (EPP, Italian) deplored “the enormous fragmentation on the EU continent, both in terms of the prerogatives and the funding of these organisations”. For her, “more harmonisation would mean it would be easier to check their funding and that these organisations are doing what they’re supposed to be doing”. She also suggested the need for a framework regulation at European level introducing “high standards that have to be adhered to”.
“We need controls every time we invest public money”, retorted Birgit Sippel (S&D, Germany), calling for not becoming more critical of “civil society than of business actors, whose damage [...] might be much bigger”.
Saskia Bricmont (Greens/EFA, Belgian) and Ramona Strugariu (Renew Europe, Romanian) argued that the proposals for a directive to combat gagging procedures (SLAPPs) and a media freedom act (EMFA) “reflect the protection that we say we’re willing to offer to activists, civil society and journalists”.
Finally, Clare Daly (The Left, Irish) deplored the rules on transparency and targeting of political advertising that are about to be negotiated between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament and that “make it harder for civil society actors to intervene in political life” (see EUROPE 13106/5). She also denounced the criminalisation of organisations assisting migrants in some Member States, including Hungary, Italy and Greece.
Following its report, the Commission will launch “a targeted dialogue with stakeholders” which will conclude with a high-level event by the end of the year. (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)