Open letter from Environmental Civil Society Organisations to the European Commission

An open letter from over 30 environmental civil society organisations to the European Commission defending the role and funding of EU LIFE operating grants. The authors assert that civil society engagement is a legal requirement under the EU Treaties and the Aarhus Convention, essential for a balanced democratic dialogue against resource-rich corporate actors. They highlight that LIFE operating grants for environmental NGOs represent only EUR 15.5 million per year (0.006% of the EU budget) but provide critical support for climate action, nature conservation, and the energy transition. The letter emphasizes that these grants are awarded through competitive processes and subject to strict accountability and transparency standards.

• Civil society engagement in environmental decision-making is established as a legal obligation under the Treaty on the European Union and the Aarhus Convention, which requires the EU and Member States to provide opportunities for public participation in environmental plans and policies.
• The EU LIFE programme supports the implementation and enforcement of Union legislation regarding the environment, biodiversity, climate action, and the transition to renewable energy or energy efficiency by enhancing the involvement of civil society.
• Operating grants for environmental NGOs and civil society organisations are relatively small, amounting to EUR 15.5 million annually, which is 0.006% of the total EU budget.
• Recipients of LIFE operating grants are subject to rigorous accountability, including annual external audits, monitoring visits, and mandatory registration in the Transparency Register.

APA

ClientEarth (2024). Open letter from Environmental Civil Society Organisations to the European Commission. https://www.clientearth.org/media/0lrkyfmk/civil-society-letter-to-commission-president-on-life-funding-5-december-2024.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Open letter from Environmental Civil Society Organisations to the European Commission. 2024. https://www.clientearth.org/media/0lrkyfmk/civil-society-letter-to-commission-president-on-life-funding-5-december-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Open letter from Environmental Civil Society Organisations to the European Commission |date=5 December 2024 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/0lrkyfmk/civil-society-letter-to-commission-president-on-life-funding-5-december-2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2024open, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Open letter from Environmental Civil Society Organisations to the European Commission}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/0lrkyfmk/civil-society-letter-to-commission-president-on-life-funding-5-december-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }