Over the past 3 years, the European Union allocated €7.4 billion to NGOs. But a report by the European Court of Auditors reveals shocking abuses in the funding system.
The report highlights missing or incorrect data, ineffective oversight, and a concentration of funds in the hands of a few selected organizations.
Instead of reflecting pluralism, the EU NGO system seems to foster monopolies of interest groups funded by public money. Between 2014–2023, just 30 organizations received over €3.3 billion, nearly 40% of all EU NGO funds. MCC Brussels calls this a “closed cartel of privileged organizations.”
Many aren’t even registered as NGOs, raising serious questions about compliance with EU values.
A subsidy of €549M was officially recorded as €317M. Worse, €2.6B vanished under “shared management” with member states between 2021–2023—no reliable data on where the money went. Taxpayers are funding influential groups operating in the political space without accountability.
Civil Society Europe (570 NGOs) rejected the report’s criticisms, calling them attacks on their legitimacy.
Slovenian organizations like Focus, DOPPS, Slovenska filantropija, and others argue public funding is vital for democracy and protecting citizens’ rights. But is it time for reform? Some suggest adopting transparency measures like those implemented in the US under the Trump administration. The goal is to ensure fairness and accountability in the use of public funds for NGOs.