New EP proposal to protect organisations riddled with corruption

The European Parliament recently voted in favor of a proposal that would allow various rights organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), investigative journalists and activists to be exempt from any legal liability if they claim in court that their right to public participation has been damaged. "Placing NGOs above the law and the judicial system could lead to the legalization of their already existing abuses of the legal norms of the community, and this new type of power could be wielded to legalize certain forms of corruption," Dr Zoltan Lomnici Jr, constitutional law expert told Magyar Nemzet.

"The proposed new legislation would also exempt journalists, human rights activists and NGOs from - in the text's wording - manifestly unfounded or abusive legal proceedings (known collectively as SLAPP - strategic lawsuits against public participation). The main argument behind the legislation is that such proceedings would jeopardize their public participation, and could thus be immediately terminated by the court, the constitutional lawyer and legal expert said. The new regulation in question was recently submitted to the European Parliament (EP), where it was passed with 493 voting in favor, 33 against and 105 abstentions. EU Commissioner for Transparency and Values Vera Jourova argued in favor of the proposal, saying that these measures would help protect those who take risks and speak out when the public interest is at stake - for example when it comes to "allegations of money laundering and corruption".
 

From this perspective, the proposal is not unique, as journalists are already protected in several member states

the legal expert at the Szazadveg research institute pointed out, stressing that in Hungary, for example, at the initiative of ruling Fidesz party, no one who commits defamation or libel in the press can be punished with imprisonment, except in certain rare blatantly gross cases.

NGOs placed above the law

For NGOs, however, the situation is different. "The positive discrimination of foreign-funded entities, often seen in the United States as agent organisations or political pressure groups, raises sovereignty issues," Dr Lomnici Jr said. The suspicion of personalized legislation also arises, the legal expert noted, explaining that  

in its proposal for creating the new EU directive, the EP is relying mostly on the rule of law reports prepared by NGOs.

Several of the suspects in the Brussels corruption scandal which erupted last December - such as Niccolo Figa-Talamanca and Antonio Panzeri - influenced MEPs through NGOs and are also suspected of laundering payments from third countries for their lobbying activity through the NGOs. The EP proposal also raises questions in this regard. 

Putting NGOs above the law and justice could legalize their already existing abuses, overriding the legal norms of the community. And this new type of power could be wielded to legitimize certain forms of corruption,

the legal expert said.

Ties to migration 

NGOs also play a major role in promoting migration. A few months ago, a diplomatic row erupted between Italy and France over the refusal of the right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni to open its ports to French and German NGOs carrying illegal migrants. Dr. Zoltan Lomnici pointed out that NGOs have staged attacks on multiple levels at member states who are trying to resist immigration, so it is of real consequence what immunity the proposal grants these organizations;

The network-like operation was also visible in terms of facilitating migration, so now the goal is clearly to ensure the 'protection' of NGOs against legal and judiciary proceedings on a Europe-wide scale, i.e. ideally in all member states,

the expert said, adding that "its implementation would be a giant step forward for these organisations". 

Cover photo: European Parliament meeting in Brussels (Photo: AFP/Kenzo Tribouillard)