ESN MEP Christine Anderson commented:
“This is an unprecedented case of political interference and economic damage by Brussels – yet another link in a chain of unlawful meddling by the EU in the political opinion-forming process of its Member States. It is profoundly undemocratic for the EU to misuse taxpayers’ money to align public opinion in the Member States with its own agenda.
Weeks ago, we requested that the issue of EU interference be placed on the agenda of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS). That request was rejected this week by the committee coordinators.
Even more shocking: the EPP Group, along with the Greens, voted against our motion. Instead of addressing institutional abuse of power within the EU, the committee majority decided to focus on the so-called ‘democracy-threatening manosphere’.
When Brussels uses public money to finance ideological campaigns and deliberately harm national companies, it constitutes a direct attack on democracy, transparency, and economic sovereignty. The EUDS Committee’s silence, and the Christian Democrats’ ongoing refusal to address this interference, is a disgrace.”
We therefore demand:
Full disclosure of all EU Commission payments to politically active NGOs
An immediate end to the use of public funds for indirect opinion manipulation
A debate on this matter in the plenary and the EUDS Committee
Those who speak of ‘protecting democracy’ must not look away when the EU itself becomes a partisan actor – against citizens, businesses, and Member States.”
