European values must not come under threat from a ‘simpler’ MFF

From 12 February to 7 May this year, the European Commission ran a consultation on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which according to Commission President von der Leyen should become simpler, more focused and responsive.
 

As a think tank engaged in EU-related research and analysis, the EPC together with think tank partners from across Europe responded to this consultation. Why? Like many organisations who believe in the European project, we receive funding from the Union‘s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) in the form of an operating grant to support much of our core work, especially related to diversity, migration, inclusion and participatory democracy.
 

Without this funding, innovations aiming to support value-based policymaking will be undermined. In a world where funding for NGOs is rapidly shrinking, there would be even less funding to work on democracy, one of the cornerstones of European integration. Malign actors have already been successful in closing down civil society spaces in a number of member states, and they are now turning their attention to EU funding.
 

Many NGOs and think tanks that include or depend on these sources of funding for their survival find themselves under threat as political pressure to halt civil society activities in many sectors grows. It is thus vital that EU countries that care about well-being and democracy, together with the European Commission, continue to invest in civil society via initiatives such as the LIFE, health and CERV programmes. As we state in our response to the consultation, the next MFF should strengthen the CERV programme by maintaining the provision of operating grants, simplifying processes and expanding regranting tools.

Emma Woodford is the Chief Operating Officer at the European Policy Centre.

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