Taxpayer Group Demands Criminal Probe of Ex-EU Commissioners

UPDATE: A major taxpayer organization has urgently called for a criminal investigation into alleged unlawful payments made by former EU Commissioners Frans Timmermans and Virginius Sinkevicius to environmental NGOs. This shocking development could have significant implications for EU funding transparency and accountability.

The Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE) filed criminal complaints with both German domestic prosecutors and the EU Public Prosecutor’s Office in Luxembourg earlier this week. The complaints accuse Timmermans, who served as Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Climate Action, and Sinkevicius, currently an MEP and former Commissioner for Environment and Oceans, of making illegal payments during their terms from 2019 to 2024 under the leadership of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

TAE President Michael Jäger stated, “There are suspicions that payments may have been made illegally.” He emphasized the need for public prosecutors to investigate potential violations of EU principles of transparency and separation of powers. The complaints arise from media reports alleging that the EU Commission financed NGOs with substantial sums—up to €700,000—without proper disclosure or oversight.

The allegations first surfaced in June through German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag, which claimed that the EU executive had secretly funded environmental organizations to promote its climate policy. Despite these claims, the Commission has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that it maintains a high level of transparency regarding NGO funding.

In a previous attempt to address these allegations, three right-wing political groups sought to establish an investigative committee within the European Parliament, but their efforts were thwarted. Instead, political leaders agreed to form a working group within the Committee on Budgetary Control to examine how the Commission allocates funding to NGOs.

The controversy is further complicated by statements from Nick Aiossa, director of Transparency International EU, who dismissed the claims as previously debunked stories. He criticized the media coverage and suggested ulterior motives behind the leaks, highlighting that funding civil society is crucial for public debate.

The TAE’s complaints also extend to concerns about the legal responsibilities of Commission officials regarding the EU’s budgetary assets. Jäger stated, “A legal vacuum must not arise. Because all Europeans are equal before the law.”

As this situation unfolds, TAE anticipates feedback from the prosecutors’ offices within the next three months about whether they will pursue an investigation. Notably, separate criminal complaints have also been filed in A Austria regarding similar issues.

The allegations are tied to the EU’s LIFE programme, which has a budget of €5.4 billion between 2021 and 2027. This programme allocates about €15.6 million specifically for funding environmental NGOs, with individual organizations eligible for grants of up to €700,000 annually.

While NGOs are required to adhere to transparency rules and are subject to audits, the European Court of Auditors previously criticized the funding process as “opaque,” despite finding no evidence of wrongdoing by either the NGOs or Commission officials during a year-long investigation.

As public scrutiny intensifies, the implications of this situation are far-reaching. Should these investigations proceed, they could reshape the landscape of NGO funding and accountability within the EU.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops. The ramifications of these allegations could affect not only the individuals involved but also the governance of EU funding practices moving forward.