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Germany’s elections played out exactly as expected, paving the way for former corporate lawyer and CDU leader Friedrich Merz to become Germany’s next chancellor. His foot barely in the door, Merz came in guns blazing by initiating a parliamentary inquiry investigating the financing of non-government organisations. Several NGOs, including Omas gegen Rechts (Grannys against the right), Greenpeace and BUND were sent a questionnaire with a whopping 551 questions (German bureaucracy at its finest) to ascertain their political neutrality.
Amongst the political and civil society circuit, the move has been interpreted as an attempt to intimidate politically active NGOs in retaliation for protests against the far-right organised by some of the targeted organisations. Left Party MP Clara Bünger described the move as "reminiscent of authoritarian states and [is] extremely concerning”.
The view that NGOs shaping the political narrative amounts to political interference is gaining currency across Europe’s political leadership class. Merz’s move is almost an exact copy-and-paste of fellow German Manfred Weber, whose EPP party dropped hints that an investigation into the ties between the European Commission and the NGOs it funds is on the cards. This comes on the foot of last year’s announcement by the Commission (also headed by a German - I’m seeing a pattern) that environmental organisations can’t use EU funds for lobbying or advocacy.
Bünger’s comparison to authoritarian states is on the money (pun intended). The increased scrutiny of politically vocal NGOs is inspired by Orban’s playbook, who recently praised Donald Trump’s suspension of USAid and vowed to eliminate ‘foreign networks’ of NGOs and media that criticise his government. Meanwhile in Bulgaria, the far-right Revival party are attempting to breathe new life into legislation that would penalise those in receipt of foreign funding, a copycat of Russia’s ‘foreign agent’ laws (despite some of its members benefitting from said funding).
It’s a tough climate for NGOS, but that doesn’t mean we’ll pull punches in our Liberties Rule of Law Report 2025. The report documenting the health of democratic institutions, due to be released mid-March, comes at a time when democracy is going out of style.
And as an exclusive, just for newsletter subscribers – enjoy the report cover artwork, designed by our graphic designer Flora.
In a nutshell
- Liberties get-together: Our remote team joined us for a strategy-planning meeting in Berlin
- Building Support in Sofia: Our Head of Framing & Messaging Israel Butler went to Sofia to train activists how to build public support for human rights NGOs and push back against smear campaigns by creating persuasive messaging, dissolving misinformation and turning attacks against activists into opportunities
Liberties Team Get-Together
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In focus
Challenges to Digital Services Coordinators' Independence Across the EU
As the European Union has grown increasingly willing to regulate the digital world, Member States have employed diverging strategies for enacting these rules. According to new research, many have room to improve their regulatory frameworks. Learn more.
We Need More Clarity on the Definition of Political Advertisement
The law’s vague language risks encompassing a wide range of civil society public-facing communication, including advocacy campaigns and civic discussions. Read more.
In The News
Liberties Study: The State of Oversight of the Digital Services Act (in German - Liberties-Studie: So steht es um die Aufsicht des Digital Services Act)
The Digital Services Act (DSA) has been in effect for almost a year. This prompted the civil rights organization Civil Liberties Union for Europe to take a closer look at the national implementation of the EU digital law. Compared to other countries, Germany performs relatively well. Read on Netzpolitik.
Network Corner
- Liberties 3rd CERV-STRIVE grant is open for 2025. Applications need to be submitted by 1 April. Find out more on our website.
- Protect migrant rights: Italian member CILD, alongside Cittadinanzattiva, launched the project website within the SCUDI Knowledge Platform, a publicly accessible virtual database providing legal resources, case studies, and practical tools to support lawyers, legal practitioners, and human rights activists in applying strategic litigation and EU fundamental rights more effectively.
- 100+ NGOs v AI: Our member VoxPublic, joined over 100 French NGOs, including Amnesty International France, sounding the alarm on AI’s threat to human rights and the environment. You can read their opinion piece, “Call from a hundred NGOs: ‘AI as developed is fuelling a global exploitation system’” in Le Monde.
- New hard-hitting sleuth in town: Liberties’ Maltese member, The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, has launched Amphora Media, a platform for collaborative investigative journalism. Amphora Media’s aim is to amplify unheard voices and expose stories that some would rather keep hidden, informing citizens, encouraging open dialogue, and prompting change on public interest matters. Subscription is free of charge. The name amphora, an ancient storage vessel symbolic across histories, is an homage to Daphne Caruana Galizia's background studying archeology.
Meet Our Interns
We are delighted to have talented interns cutting their teeth with Liberties over the coming months. If you’re interested in a Berlin-based or remote internship with Liberties, we are accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Communications & Campaign Assistant
Development & Operations Assistant
Deren Dimililer: Project Management Assistant
Deren Dimililer holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Utrecht University and a Master's degree in International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage from the University of Bologna. She has worked and volunteered with various peace initiatives in Cyprus, as well as with international organizations such as PEN International. Through these roles, she has developed a strong interest in promoting social justice, fostering civic spaces, and enhancing intercultural understanding through both international projects and local initiatives.
Rodrigo Pina: Advocacy & Research Assistant
Rodrigo recently completed a Master’s in Tech Law at Católica Global School of Law, focusing on digital rights and platform regulation. His research covered the legal status of AI, data protection, and state sovereignty in migration law. After his law degree in Lisbon, he spent six months in Tel Aviv studying political science. He has worked with Defend Digital Me and the Boat Refugee Foundation on data protection, copyright, and asylum law. His interests include freedom of expression, digital rights, and legal theory.
Heleen Van Nugteren: Advocacy & Research Assistant
Heleen van Nugteren has a bachelor's degree in International Relations and International Organizations from the University of Groningen and a master’s degree in Human Geography with a specialization on Conflict, Territories and Identities from the Radboud University in the Netherlands. During her studies she interned at the Catalan National Assembly in Barcelona and has mainly focussed on democratic backsliding, civic space, human rights and the terrorism label. She joins Liberties as an advocacy and research assistant and will be working on CIVICUS civic space monitoring alongside working on her professional French.
What we’re reading/watching/listening to
- Tracks East: A Golden Age of Populism - ARTE
- We Shall Not be Overwhelmed - Unthinkable
- Acceptance Speech of Tilda Swinton - Berlinale 2025
- Monday is when EU should say 'no' to Israel’s genocide, occupation and apartheid - EUObserver
- Where Is Our Outcry? - Verfassungsblog
Resources
- Digital Security Helpline for Journalists, Activists - Access Now
- The science of communicating hope - Thomas Coombes
- Knowledge Hub: Strategic Communications Crashcourse - our free e-course in case you missed it
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