Government is planning sharp cuts for environmental NGOs-scandal in the state parliament!

Government is planning sharp cuts for environmental NGOs-scandal in the state parliament!

A new draft law, which is supported by the government coalition of ÖVP and FPÖ, has a violent resistance with its planned changes to environmental NGOs. The proposal, which was discussed in the responsible state committee, should not only restrict the legal status of environmental organizations, but also to significantly adapt the conditions of participation to environmental impact examinations (RRP). In the future, only clubs with at least 100 members will be given the opportunity to participate as a party in a UVP procedure, which excludes smaller and often more effective environmental groups, such as Freich-magazin.com reported.

The club boss of the ÖVP, Wolfgang Mayer, argues that these regulations should ensure more transparency, especially in cases where NGOs cooperate with large companies. This is done as part of an application that also contains claims for disclosure of donations and members lists. Critics, including the Greens and the SPÖ, have described the proposal as a "general attack" on environmental organizations, since it potentially leads to intimidation and weakening of civil society. They accuse the government of producing a sham transparency that is actually supposed to silence the voices of critical environmental organizations. As found orf.at , the demand for transparency is also used as a pretext to exert pressure on non -governmental organizations.

consequences for civil society

The planned changes also raise data protection concerns. The mandatory naming of the members could represent disproportionate risks for the organizations concerned and is even described as "illegal" by the NGO Global 2000. In this context, Greenpeace speaks of a "worrying step towards orbanization" of civil society. Meanwhile, the lawyer Teresa Weber, which was consulted as an expert, expressed concerns about the fundamental rights of the donors and the NGOs as well as the risk that this would conflict with free capital and payment transactions in the EU, which could be particularly relevant for cross-border donations.

However, the opposition's voices remain unanswered, while the government parties refer to international standards and emphasize that the changes should ensure faster and more transparent processes. It remains to be seen whether this approach has the intended effect or will actually lead to a strengthening of the environmental movement.