Follow the Money: The Podcast How Europe’s largest party made an enemy out of NGOs
12 snips
Aug 26, 2025 Lise Witteman, a deputy editor at Follow the Money, and Hans Wetzels, an investigative journalist covering European environmental policies, dive into the European People's Party's contentious campaign against NGOs. They reveal how the EPP has scapegoated these organizations amid its retreat from the Green Deal. The discussion touches on rising populism, the challenges NGOs face in a hostile political landscape, and the importance of diverse voices in environmental policymaking. Their insights shed light on the fragile balance between politics and civic engagement in Europe.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Contracts Show NGOs' Own Work Plans
- Examination of LIFE fund contracts found no evidence of commission-issued 'marching orders' to NGOs.
- Contracts contained NGOs' own work plans explaining how they would use public funds for advocacy and projects.
Narrative Framing Reversed Reality
- EPP amplified the tabloid narrative to portray NGOs as a shadowy lobby network.
- The campaign framed transparent work plans as illegitimate 'marching orders' to discredit civil society.
TTIP Campaign Became A Grievance
- NGOs mobilized public debate during the TTIP era and helped stall the agreement by raising concerns.
- The EPP later blamed NGOs for that policy failure and reignited distrust toward civil society.