The State's non-governmental organisations have asked the Government to lobby the EU to lift its suspension of funding for certain NGOs, a public meeting was told. The meeting was organised by Ms Bernie Malone MEP to co-ordinate the response of Irish NGOs to the EU Commission's decision to freeze funding for a number of anti-poverty, social exclusion and development programmes.
A ruling of the European Court of Justice in May said there would be no funding for projects which did not have a legal base in EU treaties. The issue will be raised at a meeting of the EU presidency, the Parliament and the EU Commission today.