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Open letter from Environmental Civil Society Organisations to the European Commission

BY: Oceana Web

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Brussels, 5 December 2024

Dear President Ursula von der Leyen,

In light of questions raised in the European Parliament’s Budgetary Control (CONT) Committee
on EU funding of civil society, the undersigned organisations hereby wish to stress that civil
society engagement is not only essential for Europe’s future, strong public participation and the
resilience of European democracy, but is also a legal requirement under the Treaties and the
Aarhus Convention. Furthermore, it supports the EU’s commitments made collectively by the
European Commission, European Parliament and the Council to living well within planetary
boundaries and strengthens the European Project.


We represent significantly more than fifty million citizens involved in environmental organisations
and have, over the past decades, constructively engaged in the development and implementation
of EU policies. This has included participation in EU consultations, expert groups and structured
dialogues organised by the EU institutions, raising awareness and channelling citizen concerns
to decision makers. Through these activities, we have exercised our right to public participation
in environmental decision-making and upheld the European institution’s obligation to maintain a
transparent dialogue with civil society, while respecting the diversity of perspectives across
stakeholders.

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