Proposal for register of organisations receiving non-EU funding risks being “harmful”, says European University Association
Universities and civil society organisations are protesting plans for a register of EU entities that receive funding from outside the bloc.
The Defence of Democracy proposals, set out by the European Commission in December, are intended to create common transparency and accountability rules to promote trust in organisations and protect public debate.
But the European University Association said the register could harm universities, “which are by their nature globally connected”.
“Such a register could become a tool to delegitimise and control universities and non-governmental organisations,” the group added.
‘Inefficient and potentially counterproductive’
The EUA and Civil Society Europe, a network of EU-level civil society groups that is also concerned about the proposal, sent a letter to EU member states and the European Parliament urging them to block the plan.
They said that accepting non-EU funding does not make activities a representation of foreign interests. In addition, the register would be “inefficient and potentially counterproductive” because it could become “an instrument for stigmatising organisations and institutions and for repressing free and open debate, quite similar to ‘foreign agent’ rules commonly used by undemocratic regimes”.
According to the two groups, the proposal draws an “unnecessary and discriminatory” distinction between foreign funding and funding from the EU. They said it could restrict the freedom of research if its transparency obligations inhibit access to funding.
Other “important elements” of the Defence of Democracy package—such as proposals around the participation of civil society organisations in policymaking—should go ahead, the groups said.
Research Professional News has asked the Commission for comment.