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The work of NGOs at the EU is 'not as sinister as you may think', election event told

Access to policy makers at higher European level is often the only way for smaller organisations to be heard.

AN EXPERT IN EU affairs has said that the role of NGOs in Brussels is much greater and more positive than lobbying, suggesting the groups give greater access to the public into the European Parliament.

Rory Harte, the director of strategy at the European Movement Ireland – a non-profit group which educates the public on the EU – said the work of lobbyists and non-governmental institutions is “not necessarily as sinister as it sounds”.

At a joint event between The Journal and the University of Limerick on Monday, Harte suggested that the groups needed to be protected as their advisory roles for EU legislation can later benefit society.

As the second biggest lobbying market in the world, only behind Washington DC, groups and NGOs can have close, and ultimately consequential, relations with people within EU institutions.

This, however, is neither as sinister nor as complicated as some may think, Harte says.

The director of strategy said that while some lobby groups are tasked with furthering the priorities of large tech and pharmaceutical companies, there are also “wider, European-level platforms for civil society [...] that can help you get your voice out in Europe”.

Those levers are there and they’re easily accessed, just people don’t necessarily know about them and groups don’t know about them.”

Harte said that much of the work that European Movement Ireland does “is both making people aware of those processes, but also putting them in touch with MEPs” – to allow the public to lobby MEPs themselves for change.

In 2022, the 10 highest-spending lobby groups working in the EU represented companies such as Apple, Meta, Volkswagen, Shell, and Huawei – while groups concerned with civil society issues struggled to keep up with funding.

But Harte said that this arrangement could change.

“The EU does a lot of funding programmes as well for smaller civil society organisations,” he said, adding that the institutions also provide schemes in which the Parliament does not play a role.

Harte said organisations such as Access Europe is one such example of this type of funding, which enables the less commercially-focused groups to inform the public of how the EU impacts them on a “day-to-day level”.

***

This work is co-funded by Journal Media and a grant programme from the European Parliament. Any opinions or conclusions expressed in this work are the author’s own. The European Parliament has no involvement in nor responsibility for the editorial content published by the project. For more information, see here.

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    Mute Finn Barr
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    May 17th 2024, 7:22 AM

    Can one of these NGOs lobby to get our per capita contributions to the EU reduced please?
    At €53.20 per person per month, we’re the single highest contributor.
    The EU average is less than half that €25.20.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    May 17th 2024, 7:40 AM

    @Finn Barr: It’s probably worked out on GDP.

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    Mute Finn Barr
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    May 17th 2024, 8:08 AM

    @Pat Barry: oh yeah, I forgot about the tax-dodging multinationals using our country as an industrial estate, not to mention the tax-dodging foreign property companies.

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    Mute Finn Barr
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    May 17th 2024, 8:13 AM

    skewing our GDP to make it appear we’re one of the wealthiest countries per capita in the world.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 8:17 AM

    @Finn Barr: That figure doesn’t take account of how much we get from the EU: the net figure is more like €16 per person per month.

    And I don’t suppose you were complaining in the 40 years up to 2013 when we were a net beneficiary.

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    Mute Dan Murphy
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    May 17th 2024, 8:30 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Good morning, Kevin, You’re up early for a Government shill.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 8:33 AM

    @Dan Murphy: I’m not Kevin and I’m not a government shill: just someone who likes facts. Sorry if that bothers you.

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    Mute Dan Murphy
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    May 17th 2024, 8:35 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Like all the Billions they pay us for our fish. The Spanish love our fish, especially since they get it for free.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 8:41 AM

    @Dan Murphy: Up to 1973, Ireland took just 12% of the catch from Irish waters. This figure increased to as much as 40%, and averaged out at 30%, after joining the EU.

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    Mute YKwkSIqW
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    May 17th 2024, 8:50 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: If you lived or worked near the tents on the Grand Canal, would you like the fact there is now a strong smell of human feces and urine in the air day and night? All being supported by NGO’s of course (another fact). What do you think of the fact that 600 new (fake) asylum seekers multiplied by 52 multiplied by every year going forwards from now equals a total f***ing infinitely expanding disaster? What is your factual answer to this conundrum, B?

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 8:53 AM

    @YKwkSIqW: My answer is that everyone in this country deserves respect and support, and to be treated like a human being. What’s yours?

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    May 17th 2024, 9:21 AM

    @YKwkSIqW: those numbers in your comment are not facts, as you claim. Rather they are your back of a fag packet forecast that is informed by your prejudice

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    May 17th 2024, 9:57 AM

    @Finn Barr: contributions are calculated based on GNI (gross national income) not GDP

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    Mute YKwkSIqW
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    May 17th 2024, 10:27 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Stop all illegal immigration now and begin deporting fake asylum seekers. I’m in favour of controlled migration and supporting genuine asylum seekers, if our resources and infrastructure can properly support it. That is my answer.

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    Mute YKwkSIqW
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    May 17th 2024, 10:49 AM

    @SYaxJ2Ts: I just checked the International Protection Office website (journal won’t let me share the link, you’ll have to Google it) and I do stand corrected, it is around 500 per week and steadily increasing. Do you think these numbers are sustainable. If so, please explain how you see this playing out over the next few years? I’m genuinely interested in what you think is going to happen (unless we start deportations and halt illegal immigration and fake asylum seekers, that is).

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 10:53 AM

    @YKwkSIqW: Applicants for international protection could certainly be dealt with more efficiently under our current system (and the revised one due to come on stream in the EU).

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    Mute David Jordan
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    May 17th 2024, 1:00 PM

    However…

    “The chart only shows the gross contributions paid by national governments – it doesn’t show the amount that comes back to each country through EU spending”

    It’s only showing outgoings.

    https://martinwheatcroft.com/tag/ireland/

    Our Net Contribution is more important, that depends on how much the EU gives back, that can be gleaned from here:

    https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-11-07/325/

    From these trends, we can calculate a net contribution of c. €21.19 per person per month.

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    Mute David Jordan
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    May 17th 2024, 1:16 PM

    @Finn Barr: Furthermore, we can calculate how much tax paying workers contribution to the EU (net payment). Our employment rate is 74% (defined as the proportion aged 15 and over who are working, 80.8% of the population are >14).

    Therefore, the average net contribution of a worker to the EU is €35 per month on average, or 1% on €45,000 salary (average wage in Ireland).

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    Mute YKwkSIqW
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    May 20th 2024, 7:24 AM

    @SYaxJ2Ts: What am I prejudiced against, Kevin? You never seem to reply after your initial childish rantings. Anything of value to offer?

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    Mute Miley Byrne
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    May 17th 2024, 8:36 AM

    For fairness and balance the journal should publish an anti-NGO article later. Otherwise its just a propaganda tool

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    Mute Nodon
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    May 17th 2024, 1:49 PM

    @Miley Byrne: The journal is like the rest of the MSM. They don’t do fairness and balance.

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    Mute carol mullen
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    May 17th 2024, 8:04 AM

    The European project has failed many countries and is controlled by the germans and french as shown during the financial crisis.The smaller countries have very little influence despite the delusion we hear from our own MEP’s.I support peaceful co-operation among nations and do not support the creation of a euro super army that is currently happening.I would like to see Ireland leave the EU and wonder which NGO group i should approach for support???

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 8:28 AM

    @carol mullen: One of the far-right parties?

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    May 17th 2024, 8:36 AM

    @carol mullen: Thank you for your support comrade. 1.50 euro will be deposited in your account today. Please ensure the kremlin have your correct IBAN number.

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    Mute Fran Mooney
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    May 17th 2024, 8:56 AM

    Why do the journal not do a fact check on judge nolan on why he gives sex cases suspended sentences

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    May 17th 2024, 9:14 AM

    @Fran Mooney: your proposal doesn’t constitute a fact check

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 9:20 AM

    @SYaxJ2Ts: Yes: a fact check has to have a possible yes/no answer.

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    Mute Oliver Cleary
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    May 17th 2024, 9:05 AM

    We want a say on who is foreign funded. There is a legitimate concern among Irish people that they aim to subvert our democracy.

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    Mute David Jordan
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    May 17th 2024, 10:21 AM

    @Oliver Cleary: The top 10 lobbyists in the EU in 2022:

    1. Bayer AG – Germany
    2. Apple Inc. – United States
    3. Google – United States
    4. Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and its various subsidiaries – Ireland (United States)
    5. Microsoft Corporation – United States
    6. QUALCOMM Incorporated – United States
    7. Shell Companies – United Kingdom
    8. ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical – Belgium
    9. Huawei Technologies – China
    10. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft – Germany.

    These big corporations out spend NGO lobbying by a long shot, whose capital is much smaller as funding is predominantly from donations. No, the influential players are big multinational corporations that are working hard to influence EU policy that favour their business interests. This can result in type of flawed government, a Corporatocracy, this is the government of USA, where over half of legislation favours corporations.

    I wonder if the political polarisation and the false belief that small NGOs are more influential that giant corporations, caused in part by social media, is exactly what Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 want.

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    May 17th 2024, 11:42 AM

    @David Jordan: When you say the ‘top 10 lobbyists’, what does that mean David?

    How is it measured?

    And, just me being pedantic, but in your last statement, wouldn’t that be what all these 10 want?

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 11:46 AM

    @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: The obvious way to measure it is by spending.

    https://corporateeurope.org/en/2022/09/ranking-lobbying-activities-who-spends-most

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    May 17th 2024, 4:38 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Thank you Brendan.

    But that account doesn’t really answer much.

    I have to wonder what they spend their money on.
    Which does not seem to be detailed.
    There would presumably be staff costs. “Business” expense costs, e.g. phone, electricity, rent, etc.
    But outside of that, how much is spent ‘wining and dining’?
    How much on paid junkets – I mean “learning seminars” – to exclusive resorts?
    How much on advertising and PR?
    And so on.

    It seems to me that much can be concealed in the way these figures are registered and compiled.

    And an outfit with a seemingly small official expense could be spending vast sums in other areas.

    6
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    Mute Michael Cooney
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    May 17th 2024, 1:16 PM

    Man who’s career is with an NGO said NGOs do great work. Wow groundbreaking revelation. NGOs are an industry and career path for many, they stopped being charities a long time ago.

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    May 17th 2024, 1:42 PM

    @Michael Cooney: NGO and charity are two different things.

    Some NGOs might also be charities, but there is no such requirement.

    NGO just means Non-Government Organisation.

    8
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    Mute Brian
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    May 17th 2024, 11:44 AM

    So they’re sinister but just not ‘ as sinister as you may think ‘.. and the work they do is ‘ not necessarily as sinister as is sounds ‘. This language is incredulous.. like wtf ?

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    Mute AnthonyK
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    May 17th 2024, 8:16 AM

    @Carol Mullen: ask an NGO in Britain.

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    Mute carol mullen
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    May 17th 2024, 9:33 AM

    @AnthonyK: Or Greece, maybe not, there too busy feeding the poor from the food banks after the bailout from their friends in Europe.With friends like Merkel who needs …………

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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    May 17th 2024, 9:35 AM

    I can undo the damage created by the sprawl of organisations promoting the lucrative scientific method modelling of climate. The key to restoring climate research to a productive and enjoyable state is resolving an issue restricted exclusively to Galileo and Copernicus.

    ” What I said was designed to remove a difficulty attributed to the Copernican system, and I later added that anyone who would reflect upon the matter more carefully would see that Copernicus had spoken falsely when he attributed his “third motion” to the earth since this would not be a motion at all, but a kind of rest. ” Galileo

    The idea that climate is long-term weather is cruel because it is crude. Climate, like geology and biology, covers multiple topics of research as everyone should realise.

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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    May 17th 2024, 10:07 AM

    Out of unfamiliarity, I do not expect any reader here to know what Copernicus is demonstrating even though it is crucial for demonstrating the dynamics behind planetary climate.

    “For the axis of daily rotation is not parallel to the axis of the great circle but is inclined to it by such a part of the circumference, which in our time is almost 23 and a half degrees. Thus, the centre of the Earth always remains in the plane of the ecliptic, i.e. on the circumference of a great circle, and its poles revolve, drawing small circles on both sides around the centres equidistant from the axis of the great circle. This movement, too, takes place over a period of almost a year” Copernicus

    I have a talent for these things and can translate that passage using 21st-century imaging.

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    Mute YKwkSIqW
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    May 17th 2024, 11:26 AM

    @Gerald Kelleher: You took the words right out of my mouth, Ger! Uncanny.

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    May 17th 2024, 11:44 AM

    @Gerald Kelleher: When you say that you can “I can undo the damage created by the sprawl of organisations promoting the lucrative scientific method modelling of climate”, can you tell us how you can do that please?

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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    May 17th 2024, 4:22 PM

    @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere:
    https://sol24.net/data/html/SOHO/C3/96H/VIDEO/

    The first Sun-centred astronomers had to work with that fact as a hypothesis. This means that they watched the Sun’s movements through the twelve constellations to define the Earth’s orbital path. You can still see that perspective today.

    You are from the 21st century, where a satellite moving along with the Earth captures the annual change in the position of the stars from left to right and parallel to the orbital plane instead of the Sun’s annual path.

    In the present time-lapse, Jupiter and Venus are heading in the same direction. So, why do they appear to be heading in opposite directions behind the Sun seen from a moving Earth?.

    1
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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    May 17th 2024, 4:40 PM

    @Gerald Kelleher: You said “I can undo the damage created by the sprawl of organisations promoting the lucrative scientific method modelling of climate”

    How can you can do that please?

    Your above response does not answer that simple question.

    4
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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    May 17th 2024, 11:37 AM

    The Great Circle, to which Copernicus refers, was originally defined as the motion of the Sun as it traced a line through constellations.

    https://sol24.net/data/html/SOHO/C3/96H/VIDEO/

    Because a satellite is free from the limitations that Copernicus faced due to daily rotation, we can now see the stars change from left to right and parallel to the Great Circle. That change is due to the Earth’s orbital motion alone relative to the stationary Sun.

    The Pleiades are on the top left, making their way to a dawn appearance, while Venus is going to an evening appearance to the left of the Sun. These are great matters within the abilities of considerate people and not exhibitionists.

    https://www.theplanetstoday.com/

    Just scroll the dates forward to match the graphics with actual imaging.

    10
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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    May 17th 2024, 7:14 PM

    It’s not as sinister as you may think. It’s far worse!!!!

    12
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    Mute William O leary
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    May 17th 2024, 8:51 PM

    many ringmasters controlling the circus and closer to home than many imagine ..

    6
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