EU Policy Objectives versus NGO Goals Zilvinas Silenas, Brussels, 2014 www.freema.org
Helping Themselves Six ways to reform EU Funding of NGO s
EU NGO FAILURE Bias against wealth creation NGO s with mainly wealth-consuming missions (humanitarian, social, or environmental concerns) benefit five times as much as NGO s with primarily wealth-creating aims
EU NGO FAILURE Favouritism towards certain NGO s during 2002-2004 the three largest recipients of the Commission's funding to environmental organisations received about 70 times more than the three smallest, 7 out of the 39 NGO s accounted for more than the 50% of the total funding, 14 NGO s accounted for 75%
EU NGO FAILURE Bias against new EU member states new EU members received 4.6% of total funding, while the old ones received 80.8% of total funding or 17 times more Even without the funding related to humanitarian aid (the final destination of which is mostly outside the EU) four old EU countries (UK, Belgium, France and Italy) received more funding than all the new EU countries combined. or...
EU NGO FAILURE Lobbying for Funding, not and Funding for Lobbying organisations with head office in Belgium received 86% of EU grants reported in the Transparency Register. The average amount of grants received by those organisations based in Belgium was also substantially larger that for the organisations based in other countries 25% of all the registered organisations have their head office in Belgium. 39% among organisations that have received EU grants have their office registered in Belgium
EU NGO FAILURE Goal displacement NGO s tend to be the Commission's subcontractors rather than the representatives of civil society. Projects are suggested, not because they are inherently good, but because they might get funding.
EU NGO FAILURE Government self-legitimation The Commission uses taxpayers money to persuade the same taxpayers about its own virtue. Is Commission's outreach to civil society is primarily an effort to enhance its legitimacy?
EU NGO FAILURE Hindering rather than promoting Civil Society public funding undermines civil participation rather than fostering it; There is a strong incentive for NGOs to adjust their aims to match those of the Commission, National governments or their politically decided budget; NB this is not unique to government-finance NGO s. But marketbased NGOs tend to have a greater degree of accountability
YES WE CAN DRILL Civil Society Alliance for Drilling, Fracking and Affordable Hydrocarbons
Coalition for control of drugs, alcohol and tobacco Extremely well-connected with government, enforcement agencies, politicians Currently running a lobbying campaign to pressure individual members of parliament to increase taxes Half a year ago tried to push through a law that would divert 2% of excise tax to finance their activities (approx. 30 mln. Euro) Financed by European Commission. But EC is not in any way liable for the content
EU NGO FAILURE Detrimental advocacy there are NGO s, beneficiaries of EU funding, that oppose free movement of goods, capital, services and people; over 115 organisations, including recipipents advocate the financial transaction tax and hold a common campaign to support the tax dubbed The Robin Hood Tax ; NGO s funded with taxpayers money often make the same taxpayers pay twice: firstly, by funding NGO s and, secondly, with the higher prices that result from the regulations that these NGO s lobby for
EU NGO FAILURE Very detrimental advocacy
Water = Life YES Fracking = Death - NO Watch GASLAND
Advocacy against EU EU NGO FAILURE
EU NGO FAILURE right2water.eu European Union's main aim is to create a single market in good and services. But water services are different Supported by: European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU). European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN), European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), Public Services international, plus national NGOs
Current European and National funding of NGOs is an imitation of civil society at best, a gross parody at worst, and serves only the interests of the involved parties most of the time
How to fix it?
Realign and (or) Let People Decide
Reduce, Cut, Lower maximum for grants, increase co-financing
Give just once in full, second time half, third time a third
Open contracts to all
Remove conflicts of interest
Maximum transparency for use of public funds