New Report Exposes Massive EU Funding of Radical Gender Identity Agenda — Findings to be Debated at Brussels Event

PRESS RELEASE

New Report Exposes Massive EU Funding of Radical Gender Identity Agenda — Findings to be Debated at Brussels Event

Brussels, 17 March 2025 —

A major new report from MCC Brussels has revealed that over €221 million in EU funds have been used to advance a radical gender identity agenda, promoting controversial policies that undermine women’s rights, child safeguarding, and national sovereignty — all without meaningful democratic debate. The report, "Mission Creeps: How EU Funding and Activist NGOs Captured the Gender Agenda," authored by sociologist Ashley Frawley, is the first comprehensive investigation into how a small but powerful network of NGOs has shaped EU gender policy under the radar of public scrutiny.

The findings will be publicly presented and debated at a Brussels event hosted by MCC Brussels this evening, bringing together experts to assess the profound social, political, and legal implications of this agenda.

Frank Furedi, Executive Director of MCC Brussels, commenting on the new report, said, "What we’re seeing from our research is the corruption of political processes. There’s a two-way-process where civil society is systematically bought off to provide the EU with legitimacy, whilst the EU becomes increasingly radicalised by ideologues claiming to represent civil society. This is an increasingly secretive political process where power is rendered invisible to ordinary people."

Summary of Key Findings

Massive EU Funding for Gender Identity NGOs

• The EU has allocated at least €221 million to NGOs promoting gender identity ideology over the last decade.
• €40.5 million has gone to the most radical transgender advocacy groups.
• €64.95 million was allocated solely to ILGA worldwide, a leading gender identity advocacy group.
• Major beneficiaries include:
• ILGA-Europe (€16 million, plus €65 million to its international arm)
• IGLYO (€6 million)
• Transgender Europe (TGEU) (€4.6 million)
• EuroCentralAsianLesbian*Community (€6.2 million)
• Organisation Intersex International Europe (€1.2 million)
• At least €26 million has been used to fund activist-driven research promoting gender identity ideology.

Covert NGO Influence on EU Policy

• Activists shape EU laws: NGOs have played a direct role in drafting EU gender policies, frequently operating without public transparency.
• Secretive lobbying tactics: ILGA urged politicians to keep their activities “out of the public eye whenever necessary,” with over 1,000 candidates signing a 2024 European Election pledge to support this strategy.
• Radical new LGBTQ strategy: The EU has officially adopted a strategy calling for self-ID for children

Policy capture through extensive EU institutional access:

• ILGA-Europe: 42 meetings with Commissioners, 14 public consultations, 16 roadmap contributions, and 10 European Parliament meetings, and 3 expert groups
• Transgender Europe: 7 Commissioner meetings, 8 public consultations.
• The influence of these organisations raises concerns about democratic accountability, as policies are increasingly dictated by unelected activists rather than open national debates.

Undermining National Competencies

• NGOs use EU funding to pressure national governments into adopting gender identity laws, bypassing national sovereignty.
• The proposed EU Certificate of Parenthood could override national definitions of family law, forcing member states to recognise legal parenthood definitions imposed by Brussels.
• Education policies influenced without and often explicitly against parental consent:
• NGO campaigners push for gender transitions in children to be hidden from parents, and for parents to be forced into compliance through the courts if necessary
• Reports indicate that in Portugal, schools can facilitate child social transitioning without parental knowledge, and parental opposition may lead to state intervention.
• Mandatory LGBTQI-inclusive curricula are being implemented despite parental concerns.

Weaponisation of Research Funding

• EU-funded research is being used as an advocacy tool to justify policy changes rather than for neutral academic inquiry.
• Horizon Europe grants fund ideological projects, including:
• “Challenging the gender binary” (€2.4 million)
• “MEN4DEM”, a €3 million study treating traditional masculinity as a threat to democracy.

Policy Consequences

• Erosion of women’s rights: Policies originally designed to protect women and girls have been reshaped to prioritise gender identity.
• Redefinition of legal terms: The shift from "violence against women" to "gender-based violence" dilutes protections specifically for biological females.
• Single-sex spaces at risk: The push for gender self-identification raises concerns over privacy, safety, and the integrity of women’s rights.

Call for Transparency and Oversight

• The report demands democratic accountability and urges the EU to ensure policy decisions are subject to public debate rather than activist lobbying.
• Greater scrutiny of EU funding allocation is needed to prevent ideological capture.
• Safeguards must be implemented to respect national sovereignty, parental rights, and the safety of women and children.

PUBLIC EVENT TO DISCUSS THE REPORT — TONIGHT IN BRUSSELS

The report Mission Creeps will be discussed tonight at a meeting that will feature a panel of experts examining the real-world consequences of EU gender identity policies on women’s rights, child protection, and democracy.

When – March 17th

Location: Central Brussels

Registration: 18:00 | Event: 18:30 - 20:00

You can watch the livestream - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRc-X1SP3QY