Op-ed by Giulia Riedo, Sustainable Food Policy Officer at WWF European Policy Office
Green NGOs fight for the interests of civil society, but this is a tough fight when they have very limited resources to defend them compared to the agribusiness lobby. The EU’s LIFE Programme is a crucial funding instrument. Targeting of LIFE funding isn’t just an attack on NGOs; it strikes at the core of democracy and clears the way for corporate greed to wreak even greater havoc on our planet, argues Giulia Riedo of WWF in this op-ed.
Over the past months, conservative and right-wing factions within the European Parliament have launched a concerted attack on green Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). At the core of their latest efforts to discredit us is the targeting of the EU’s LIFE Programme, a crucial funding instrument for environmental and climate action projects that many NGOs, like WWF, benefit from.
Put bluntly, centre-right and right-wing Members of the European Parliament, have claimed that LIFE turns NGOs into mere lobbyists for the European Commission, influencing EU policy on its behalf. This led to the Commission itself writing to environmental NGOs to inform them that LIFE funds can no longer be used for lobbying or advocacy work.
This takes distortion to a whole new level — and honestly, it’s utterly outrageous.
NGOs receiving funding from the LIFE Programme have been outspoken – even campaigning against – several decisions made by the European Commission. Take agriculture, for instance: when the European Commission decided – unilaterally – to scrap key environmental measures from the Common Agricultural Policy in early 2024, WWF and many others called out European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for succumbing to exploitative agriculture. Similarly, just a few days ago, when the Commission presented its Vision for Agriculture and Food, NGOs publicly criticised the new roadmap, labelling it as “shortsighted” and “vague”.
Does that sound like we’re working under the European Commission’s direction?
Let’s not forget that NGOs represent the voices of millions of citizens. Preserving our environment and tackling climate change are fundamental to securing our access to food – not just in the future, but also in the present. A more sustainable food system can help ensure more affordable, healthy food for citizens, who have expressed strong concerns over the cost of living in recent years. Green NGOs fight for the interests of civil society, but this is a tough fight when they have very limited resources to defend them compared to the agribusiness lobby.
A strike on democracy
This isn’t just an attack on NGOs – it strikes at the core of democracy and clears the way for corporate greed to wreak even greater havoc on our planet. The LIFE Programme’s total budget stands at €700 million per year – just 0.3 percent of the EU’s overall budget – but only a sliver of that – €15.6 million annually – goes to environmental NGOs in the form of ‘operating grants’, which allow NGOs to participate in EU policy making. A mere drop in the ocean, yet essential to protecting democracy where all voices – not just those of powerful corporations – can be heard.
Now, compare this to the resources available to corporations. In 2024, the top 50 big companies, which include several in the agri-sector, poured nearly €200 million into lobbying EU institutions – a shocking 66 percent increase since 2015 – giving them disproportionate influence over policymakers. This imbalance of power has often come at the expense of green policies, including those aimed at reducing the use of harmful chemicals in agriculture, improving diets and drinking water, and, more broadly, helping our planet and its limited resources thrive.
The push to defund NGOs threatens people’s wellbeing. Without adequate support, NGOs may struggle to sustain their advocacy efforts, leaving a vacuum that could be readily filled by well-resourced corporate lobbyists. This shift could lead to agricultural policies that prioritise short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability, undermining initiatives that promote sustainable farming and the reduction of carbon emissions in agriculture.
No blank cheque
But here’s another twist in the ongoing accusations against LIFE and the work of green NGOs: in their attempt to fabricate a scandal where none exists, they claim the granting process lacks transparency.
We can assure you, receiving public funding is no blank cheque. Operating grants are awarded through a highly competitive and independent selection process, based on strict criteria set in EU regulations. We face rigorous annual audits, ongoing monitoring, and external reviews to ensure every euro is spent transparently and effectively.
It’s also no surprise that our most vocal critics fall short when it comes to transparency, with concerns of conflicts of interest found concerning the MEP responsible for scrutinising EU funding for NGOs under the LIFE programme. More widely, MEPs also fail to disclose meetings with private lobbyists.
While this story dominated headlines a few weeks ago, conservative and sensationalist media outlets nationally continuing to spread this misinformation, the real issues stalling democracy and threatening our future – including the delayed transition to a much-needed sustainable food system – often go unnoticed. From the secret funding of protests that support exploitative agriculture to undisclosed meetings with corporate representatives, there are crucial concerns that really demand our attention and action.
NGOs’ work is essential and cannot be taken for granted. They defend public interests and stand as a buffer against corporate greed, which threatens to destroy our planet. The only planet we have.
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