In recent years, the European Commission has funneled billions of euros into a vast network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and think tanks. Since 2021, at least tens of millions of euros have made their way to Poland alone. This EU propaganda machine—NGO funding—has been meticulously detailed in a report by the Brussels-based think tank MCC.
Following the scandal surrounding the U.S. government’s funding of NGOs engaged in global propaganda efforts through USAID, a new controversy is brewing. This time, it revolves around the intricate web of connections and the massive amounts of taxpayer money the European Union allocates to similar activities.
Billions for NGOs
Niezależna.pl has obtained a report from MCC Brussels, which primarily investigates the financing of NGOs through the European Commission’s Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values Programme (CERV).
Launched in 2021, CERV is set to run for seven years until 2027, with objectives including:
- Equality, rights, and gender equality – protecting rights, combating discrimination, and promoting gender equality.
- Citizen engagement and participation – supporting democratic involvement, cross-border exchanges, and fostering knowledge of European history.
- Combating violence, including gender-based violence and violence against children.
- Protecting and promoting EU values.
A total of €1.5 billion has been allocated to CERV. The 2025 budget includes an additional €236 million. Since 2021, over 3,000 civil society organizations have received funding, executing more than 1,000 projects.
Notable Beneficiaries
Some of the largest beneficiaries of CERV include:
- EuroCentralAsian Lesbian Community (€6 million)
- European Network Against Racism (€4.9 million)
- European Women’s Lobby (€4.8 million)
Projects specifically aimed at combating Euroskepticism include:
- RevivEU (Eastern Europe) – fighting Euroskeptic narratives (€645,000, 2023–2024).
- Blue4EU (various countries) – engaging youth in shaping Europe’s future (€375,300, 2024–2026).
- EU TURN 2025 (Germany) – promoting the ‘denationalization of European engagement’ (€415,000, 2025).
Funding for Pro-EU and Federalist Groups
The MCC report also details funding for organizations advocating European integration or federalism:
- Union of European Federalists (UEF) – pushing for a federal European state (€1.2 million, 2022–2025).
- Young European Federalists (JEF) – mobilizing youth for European federalism (€1.2 million, 2021–2025).
- Friends of Europe – over €15 million received (2014–2024).
- European Youth Forum – nearly €40 million since 2014 to deepen European integration.
- Robert Schuman Foundation – nearly €10 million (2014–2025) to counter ‘Euroskeptic mythology.’
- European Policy Centre (EPC) – a staunchly pro-European think tank, receiving €30 million in the past decade.
- Institute for European Politics (IEP) – approximately €14 million in the same period.
- Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) – advocating deeper EU integration, receiving €250 million in the last decade.
Media and Think Tank Influence
The MCC report further reveals significant financial support for media outlets and research centers engaged in EU advocacy:
- €250 million over ten years for Euronews, the EU’s media network, recently acquired by a new owner.
- €270,000 for NGOs and think tanks in Romania, Bulgaria, and Italy, including the Romanian branch of Freedom House, which ran the project ‘Who and How: Countering Disinformation that Repels Citizens from the European Project’.
- €15 million (2021–2025) for European Movement International (EMI), whose president, Guy Verhofstadt, is known for his anti-Polish rhetoric, including criticism of Poland’s Independence March.
Conclusion: A Call for EU DOGE
The MCC report argues that EU funding of local NGOs in member states is often used to undermine or delegitimize democratically elected governments under the guise of defending ‘EU values.’
The authors claim that the EU has transformed civil society organizations into instruments of institutional propaganda.
EU funding practices distort public debates and silence alternative viewpoints, prioritizing supranational integration over national sovereignty and democratic pluralism, the think tank warns.
MCC Brussels calls for the creation of a EU Department for Governmental Efficiency (EU DOGE), modeled after a similar initiative implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Trump Suspends USAID
One of Donald Trump’s first actions upon assuming the U.S. presidency was a 90-day suspension of all foreign aid programs to assess their alignment with his administration’s foreign policy.
This move sparked outrage, particularly among small NGOs backed by liberal media—many of which had been recipients of U.S. government grants.
The greatest concern arose from revelations that U.S. funds had been flowing into foreign media, including Polish outlets. Many of these media organizations had previously championed their ‘independence’, only to be revealed as beneficiaries of substantial American funding.
For instance, the American weekly Politico, linked to Anne Applebaum, received $26 million over the past four years. The funding was disguised as a subscription purchase for its extended edition, significantly improving the financial standing of the publication.