Suche
Schnedlitz reveals: hundreds of millions of euros for NGOs without control!
FPÖ general secretary Schledlitz criticizes increased grants to NGOs and demands more transparency about state funds.
Schnedlitz reveals: hundreds of millions of euros for NGOs without control!
On August 25, 2025, the first answers to parliamentary inquiries about payments to non -governmental organizations (NGOs) arrived in Austria. The General Secretary of the FPÖ, Michael Schledlitz, was concerned about the obviously hidden donations to their own parties and close organizations. In the past five years there is a striking increase in the amount of funding that is several hundred million euros, while saving at the same time. One example is the green party school Freda, which in 2023 received two payments by the Ministry of Social Affairs for a course entitled "Politically Negotiating".
Social Minister Johannes Rauch from the Greens is politically responsible for these expenses. Schnedlitz demands transparency and criticizes a possible waste of money. However, the search for information on the ministries was difficult: over 700 individual queries were necessary because the ministries did not want to provide any information about the payments to NGOs. Despite the government's claim that the term “NGO” does not legally exist, Minister of Social Affairs Schumann used this term in her answers, but refused information about other funded NGOs. Schledlitz emphasizes that the traffic light government actively tries to prevent transparency.
Corruption and EU financing
In parallel to the events in Austria, the financing of NGOs is being debated at the European level. A corruption scandal in 2022 decisively shaped this discussion. In a report, the European Court of Auditors criticized the lack of transparency among the funds that flow from the EU to NGOs. From 2021 to 2023, over seven billion euros were awarded in areas such as cohesion, research, migration and the environment. Laima Andrikienė, a member of the European Court of Auditors, emphasizes that the financing for NGOs is often opaque and that it lacks the necessary controls to ensure that the financed organizations respect the values of the EU.
In the European Parliament, the dispute is keen on the allocation of NGO money. The EPP parliamentary group, which also includes the CDU and CSU, criticizes the award. Monika Hohlmeier from the CSU reported company costs for lobbying and possible violations of the rule of law by some NGOs. Hohlmeier emphasizes that EU funds must not be used to undermine the rule of law. Some MPs also fear that conservative forces could push back civil society commitment, while Daniel Freis speaks of the Greens of a coordinated campaign against civil society.
The role of the European Commission
The European Commission is also faced with allegations. The European Court of Auditors found that the financing of NGOs represents a "reputation risk" for the executive. No violations of EU values were found during an examination, but the review was limited to a sample of 90 contracts. Household commissioner Piotr Serafin admitted that some agreements were inappropriate and NGOs committed to lobbying. The Commission plans to update the legal definition of NGOs and to introduce an improved financial transparency system.
In summary, it can be said that both in Austria and EU levels, the topics of NGO financing and the associated transparency continue to raise complex and controversial questions. The pressure on governments and institutions to create more clarity about the use of public funds is growing. This raises the crucial question of how the integrity and independence of NGOs can be preserved in an increasingly politicized landscape.