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What is the Green 10?

The Green 10 consists of the ten leading environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active at EU level:

What do we do?

We work with the EU law-making institutions - the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers - to ensure that the environment is placed at the heart of policymaking. This includes working with our member organisations in the Member States to facilitate their input into the EU decision-making process.

While campaigning at EU level, Green 10 NGOs:

encourage the full implementation of EU environmental laws and policies in the Member States
lobby for new environmental proposals, as appropriate
work with the EU institutions to ensure that policies under consideration are as environmentally effective as possible
promote EU environmental leadership in the global political arena.

In terms of public awareness raising, Green 10 NGOs:

inform their members and the wider public of environmental developments at EU level, and encourage them to make their voice heard
give a voice to thousands of locally-based associations, which would otherwise have no access to EU decision-makers
contribute to the strengthening of civil society across Europe, through training in advocacy skills, policy analysis and the EU decision-making process.

How do we work?

The Green 10 tries to observe as democratic a process of decision-making as possible, taking into account the views of member organisations, their staff, boards and members. We reflect the views of millions of European citizens and thousands of local associations at EU level.
The strength of the Green 10 NGOs is in our networks. European environmental NGOs regularly send information to their members and supporters. This is vital to ensure these groups are fully informed of developments at EU level, so that they can contribute effectively to the EU decision-making process.

How are the Green 10 NGOs funded?

Membership contributions are an important part of the finances of Green 10 organisations. We also receive core funding from the European Commission, except for Greenpeace. Furthermore, some member organisations of the Green 10 receive funding on a case-by-case basis for specific projects from governments and foundations. Some organisations also receive specific donations from industry. Greenpeace does not request or accept financial support from governments, the EU or industry. All Green 10 organisations are externally audited every year.

Joint Green 10 activities – some examples

As well as working individually with EU institutions on key policy areas, we also coordinate joint responses and recommendations to EU decision-makers on issues of interest to all NGOs.

The Constitutional Treaty: NGOs successfully lobbied the European Convention to retain existing Treaty commitments to sustainable development, environmental protection and the integration of environmental concerns into each EU policy area. We also supported an increase in the power of the European Parliament in several areas of work.

The EU’s Sustainable Development Strategy: The Green 10 works to ensure the attainment of the objectives of the Sustainable Development Strategy agreed by the Gothenburg European Council in 2001. We closely monitor progress on the individual commitments, and have prepared joint input to the EU institutions for the review of the Strategy.

European elections: NGOs produced a joint ‘manifesto’ outlining key recommendations for action by MEPs in the European Parliament 2004-2009. We worked with member organisations to promote these recommendations with MEP candidates and political parties at national level.

Greening the EU Budget: The EU’s annual budget procedure presents an opportunity for Green 10 NGOs to lobby for a shift in funds away from environmentally damaging measures to those budget lines that deliver public goods and environmental benefits. Green 10 NGOs have been active in seeking to reform the Structural Funds, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy.

For more information on the Green 10, and for recent publications click here