European Economic
and Social Committee
CURRENT AFFAIRS: Protecting civil society: the case against the proposed NGO transparency law in Romania
The Romanian Senate’s recent legislative proposal which mandates the public disclosure of donor identities for contributions exceeding 5000 RON (around EUR 1000) represents a significant regression for civil society. As members of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), representing civil society organisations, we stand firmly against this measure because of the devastating impact it will have.
Undermining grassroots advocacy
NGOs operating, for example, within the spheres of the EESC's sections for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (NAT) and Economic and Monetary Union, Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO), often challenge systemic economic or environmental inequities. By mandating the public outing of private donors, this law creates a chilling effect
that specifically targets the independent funding essential for rural and social advocacy.
When donors fear retaliation or stigmatisation, they withdraw support. Consider the organisations I work with – such as the Romanian Women’s Lobby – and their intersectional work on rural poverty and environmental justice. When they advocate for the rights of women and girls in remote areas to have access to sustainable resources, they rely on the privacy of their supporters. Furthermore, this law poses a direct threat to the safety and dignity of individuals donating to support women and girls who are survivors of domestic violence; these donors, who provide critical resources for shelters and legal aid, will inevitably retreat if their contributions are made a matter of public record, exposing both them and the survivors to potential harassment. This climate of fear directly contradicts the spirit of the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, which requires Member States to protect victims and ensure that support services can operate without intimidation.
A barrier to sustainable funding
For civil society to remain resilient, it is essential that organisations pursue sustainable funding through the diversification of their revenue streams. By allowing NGOs to cultivate a broad base of private donors, they can maintain independence and long-term impact. This law, however, directly sabotages these efforts, forcing NGOs into a cycle of donor dependency and stifling the very fundraising autonomy required to address complex socioeconomic and ecological challenges.
Why EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group opposes this law
State institutions already possess the authority to audit financial transactions for tax compliance. This proposal adds nothing to fiscal accountability; instead, it serves as a mechanism of intimidation. The EESC has consistently championed an enabling environment for civil society as a prerequisite for a healthy democracy and social cohesion. The proposed requirements are disproportionate, create unnecessary administrative burdens, and mirror practices previously struck down by the Court of Justice of the European Union (the proposal resembles aspects of the Hungarian NGO transparency legislation invalidated by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C‑78/18). We urge the Chamber of Deputies to reject this bill, ensuring that those advocating for rural development, social equity and gender justice can continue their work without fear.
Laura ALBU (Romania)
Member, EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group
Executive President, Community Safety and Mediation Center (CMSC)
President, Romanian Women’s Lobby (ROWL)
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