Think Tank Urges EU to Tackle Russian NGOs

The Brussels-based Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies called on the European Union to take a number of measures to fight against organizations officially or unofficially funded by the Russian government and spreading the country's influence over the 28-nation bloc.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In its July report "Bear in Sheep’s Clothing: Russia’s Government-Funded Organisations in the EU," the think tank said that some Russia-based organizations, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and think tanks implement activities aimed at forming a positive view of Russia's politics among Europeans.

"The EU and its member states need to increase transparency requirements for NGOs and lobbyists, balancing the principle of governmental non-interference in the non-governmental sector against the security needs of our societies. At the EU level, a mandatory lobbying register, policed by an independent body, should be introduced," the report reads.

According to the report, the activities of various organizations in question are widely covered by Russia-based media, including Sputnik international news agency, the broadcaster RT and the news resource Russia Beyond the Headlines.

The think tank added in the report that Brussels could reclaim its own narrative in EU member states and support activities aimed at "countering illegal activities by Russia-controlled non-governmental organisations" by focusing on controlling financial flows.