The European People’s Party (EPP) has once again blocked efforts to investigate questionable NGO contracts linked to the Green Deal, shutting down a proposal from the European Conservative and Reformist (ECR) group. This move echoes their earlier rejection of a push to suspend and reassess the Green Deal following the Frans Timmermans scandal.
On February 11, the ECR, backed by Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN), called for a formal inquiry into allegations that public funds were funneled to environmental NGOs lobbying for stricter climate policies. Despite this, the EPP’s leadership instructed its members to vote against the measure, claiming an internal audit was already underway—an excuse critics see as a way to sidestep real scrutiny.
Reports suggest that at least €700,000 was funneled to NGOs promoting harsher agricultural regulations, with an estimated €4 billion directed toward Green Deal-aligned environmental groups in recent years. Organizations like Greenpeace and WWF received millions in subsidies, often without oversight, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
EPP budgetary control coordinator Tomáš Zdechovský insisted a special inquiry would be redundant, but opponents argue an internal audit—controlled by the very institution under scrutiny—cannot replace independent oversight. The refusal to authorize a full inquiry reinforces suspicions that the EPP is more interested in shielding the EU bureaucracy than ensuring financial accountability.
Adding to the controversy, left-wing lawmakers responded by demanding that corporate lobbying funds also be investigated, claiming business interests exert undue influence over EU policymaking. However, with the EPP continuing to block deeper probes, transparency remains an open question.
