EU funding and support for NGOs

26.8.2015

Question for written answer E-012152-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Konstantinos Papadakis (NI)

Hundreds of non-governmental organisations are, to an increasing extent, replacing state-run organisations and services responsible for covering the basic needs of workers in Greece, which are either closing down or operating at reduced capacity.

With support and funding from the EU and successive Greek governments, NGOs have started to organise five-month social service employment programmes at municipal level (providing crèche facilities and home-help services for example), as well as running charity programmes (social supermarkets, meal centres, assistance with payment of rent, etc.) and helping with the provision of primary healthcare and mental health services.

They have also to a large extent assumed responsibility for migrants and refugees in response to the manifest failure of the EU to implement effective policies in this area regarding the provision of proper shelter and humanitarian assistance. At the same time, the involvement of NGOs effectively precludes the deployment of trained experts with suitable experience.

All this means that employees are having to pay for basic services from their own pockets.

What view does the Commission take of the fact that NGO activity is being accompanied by the closure of state-run facilities and their transfer to large business undertakings, a development that is adversely affecting earnings and conditions of employment? What criteria must be met by NGOs to be eligible for EU funding?