Hungarian Child Rights Coalition Stands in Solidarity with NGOs Targeted by Sovereignty Office's Report

The Coalition condemned the government's report for unfairly targeting NGOs, including Eurochild members, by misrepresenting EU CERV funds—meant to support democratic and inclusive societies—as tools for political pressure.

On 29 January 2025, the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty published a report entitled "The European Commission's CERV Programme - How Brussels opened the money tap to finance the Soros network", which suggests that some Hungarian NGOs receiving direct EU funds are using them for political pressure.

However, the CERV programme is not intended to finance political agendas or foreign interests that undermine Hungary's sovereignty, but rather to promote democratic societies and support vulnerable groups, including children, in alignment with the objectives outlined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The report targets Hungarian citizens who work to support the vulnerable, including the poor, refugees, the homeless, sexual minorities, Roma, women, the elderly, and children. Many organisations advocating for children's rights are involved in the performance of state duties, as they help address deficiencies in the Hungarian child protection system—an issue the Coalition has consistently highlighted to both decision-makers and the public. Through their involvement, civil society organisations make a major contribution to the effective management of social problems, the satisfaction of social needs and the performance of public tasks.

The document also criticises the fact that the Hungarian state has no control over who wins the European Commission's tender and how the beneficiaries use the funds awarded. The reality is that the evaluation of applications is carried out by evaluators appointed by the European Union, of which Hungary is a member, and by the European Commission itself, in accordance with predetermined criteria. The projects that receive funding under the CERV programme are public and can be consulted by anyone on the European Union's website.

The Coalition expects the government not to attack but to protect and support the activities of civil society organisations, because the quality of the relationship between the state and the civil sector influences the content of democracy.

Read the full joint solidarity declaration

Photo: image from the report cover.