In this episode, host Anna Gelencsér from the Hungarian Helsinki Committee speaks with Anna Grudzinska of the National Federation of Polish NGOs (OFOP) and András Léderer from the Hungarian Helsinki Committee about the role of civil society organizations in monitoring EU funds in Hungary and Poland.

The discussion highlights both shared and country-specific challenges. In both contexts, CSOs must navigate slow-moving bureaucratic structures, heavy workloads, and limited resources. However, while OFOP draws on over two decades of structured experience in Poland, civil society participation in Hungary’s monitoring committees is a relatively recent development. This new engagement is unfolding in a politically hostile environment, with growing pressure on independent organizations—most notably through the actions of the Sovereignty Protection Office.

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"Making sense of EU" is a podcast created and produced by the Institut d’études européennes (IEE) of the Université libre de Bruxelles, in which scientific research sheds light on the pressing issues of EU affairs. Its 2nd series, RED-SPINEL, focuses on the challenges liberal democracy is facing in the European Union.

This serie is a product of the Horizon Europe Research project RED-SPINEL and is co-funded by the European Union.

ULB Podcasts, les podcasts de l'Université libre de Bruxelles.

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.