In recent days, Brussels has been shaken by a heated debate over the European Green Deal and the use of EU funds to promote its implementation. At the center of the controversy is former European Commissioner Frans Timmermans, accused by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf of using EU resources to finance a network of environmental NGOs with the aim of influencing policies and accelerating the green agenda.
According to the investigation, contracts worth millions of euros were allegedly signed, including a specific €700,000 contract tied to the agricultural debate. Through the Life program, the European Commission is said to have supported nonprofit organizations tasked with lobbying parliamentarians and governments to advance the Green Deal strategy. While acknowledging the program’s utility, Piotr Serafin, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, admitted during a parliamentary session that it was “inappropriate” to bind NGOs to lobbying activities targeting members of the European Parliament.
The accusations have fueled criticism from opponents of the Green Deal, who view this episode as a “serious democratic interference.” Several MEPs, particularly from conservative groups, have called for transparency and clarity on the use of funds. Coldiretti, Italy’s main agricultural organization, added to the debate with a call for justice for farmers, who have been accused in the past of contributing to environmental degradation.
Donald Tusk, the current president of the European Council, joined the discussion during an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, urging a review of the Green Deal. According to Tusk, it is necessary to balance environmental ambitions with economic competitiveness to prevent Europe from losing ground on the global stage.
AIAB’s Defense
In this context, AIAB (Italian Association for Organic Agriculture) strongly rejected the accusations against environmental NGOs, calling them “absurd and unfounded.” President Giuseppe Romano reiterated full support for the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy, which aims to transform the European agricultural system toward sustainability.
According to Romano, the climate crisis is already threatening agricultural production, making ambitious policies essential to achieve goals such as having 25% of agricultural land dedicated to organic farming by 2030. AIAB emphasized that these controversies divert attention from the only real solution: increasing organic production and promoting agricultural biodiversity.
The association urged Europe to continue in the direction outlined by the Farm to Fork strategy, avoiding unnecessary polarization in the debate that risks harming both the environment and agriculture.
