Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have emerged as significant actors within the policy-making arena of the European Union (EU). In the context of increasingly complex governance arrangements, NGOs function as intermediaries between civil society and EU institutions, advocating diverse interests. Their roles encompass lobbying, providing expert knowledge, mobilizing public opinion, and participating in formal consultation and advisory processes. This multifaceted engagement of NGOs enhances democratic legitimacy and pluralism in EU policymaking, promoting social and environmental sustainability.

In contemporary European governance, NGOs have emerged as pivotal actors shaping the policy landscape of the EU. Over the past three decades, the EU has undergone a profound transformation from an economic community into a complex multilevel political system, characterized by a dense network of institutions, agencies, and policy actors. Within this system, NGOs have acquired an increasingly prominent role in lobbying, advocacy, and policy consultation, often serving as intermediaries between supranational institutions and the broader public.

Their participation in EU policymaking is frequently justified on democratic and functional grounds: NGOs are perceived as representatives of civil society interests, contributors of specialized knowledge, and agents enhancing transparency and accountability within the EU’s complex decision-making structures.

However, the growing influence of NGOs in EU lobbying activities is accompanied by critical perspectives. The concept of “elite capture” highlights the dominance of well-resourced, Brussels-based NGOs that may prioritize their organizational interests and maintain privileged access to decision-makers, potentially marginalizing smaller or grassroots organizations and limiting the diversity of voices. Additionally, questions about transparency, impartiality, and funding dependencies complicate the evaluation of NGOs’ impact. These dynamics necessitate a thorough understanding of the roles, mechanisms, advantages, and challenges associated with NGO lobbying in the EU.

On 17 June 2025, a provisional agreement was concluded between the European Parliament and the Council on a regulatory framework designed to enhance transparency and democratic integrity for European political parties and foundations. While this reform package represents a significant step towards modernising the EU’s political architecture, it coincides with a period of escalating political pressure on civil society organisations. This climate has been notably intensified by the European Parliament’s concurrent initiative to establish a new oversight body tasked with investigating EU-funded non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

These parallel developments—such as the imposition of stricter standards for political parties and the intensification of scrutiny on civil society—constitute a pivotal juncture for European democratic governance. They reflect a substantive rebalancing of the EU’s democratic infrastructure. On one hand, the regulatory reforms for political parties aim to fortify institutional transparency and accountability. On the other hand, the heightened oversight of civil society introduces a risk of fostering a climate of institutional suspicion, potentially constraining its capacity to freely articulate its perspectives to EU institutions.