Statement on the minor inquiry of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group on the “Political neutrality of state-funded organizations”

On February 24, 2025 – one day after the federal election – the CDU/CSU parliamentary group submitted a Small Inquiry (BT-Drs. 20/15035) to the acting federal government, consisting of a total of 551 individual questions. In this inquiry, they request detailed information and evaluations regarding the work of 17 civil society organizations. A large portion of the questions pertain to whether these organizations, as recipients of state funding, have engaged in party-political activities.

This parliamentary process is a cause for concern for us and our members, who see themselves as an essential part of democratic civil society and who support some of the listed organizations. Therefore, we would like to reaffirm today our position towards the upcoming German Bundestag and a future federal government, as already expressed in our Position Paper on the 2025 Federal Election and in a joint statement with other umbrella organizations, titled "No Democracy Without a Strong Civil Society!" :

1. Secure opportunities for self-organized, sometimes uncomfortable civil society engagement, whose goals do not necessarily align with those of political parties and other political interests, are essential for our democracy. We therefore continue to advocate emphatically for the political freedom of opinion and action for nonprofit organizations within the scope of their objectives.

2. For good reason, nonprofit organizations – according to the current legal understanding in the Federal Republic of Germany – are permitted to engage in political activities to fulfill their statutory purposes and, in exceptional cases, even beyond them. The principle of political neutrality must be upheld, but it should not be misinterpreted as a requirement for political restraint.

3. The historically developed value of this legal framework for a pluralistic civil society that shapes political opinion formation must be fundamentally recognized. Current developments in the USA or the situation in Hungary starkly illustrate how the depoliticization of civil society goes hand in hand with the erosion of democratic rule of law. The EU Commission’s rule of law reports emphasize the importance of a political civil society for Europe’s legal architecture and have long criticized the reservations in Germany regarding this matter.

4. As the representative body of the German foundation sector and a member of the coordinating group of the Alliance for Nonprofit Work, we reaffirm our offer for dialogue with the newly constituted CDU/CSU parliamentary group and the future federal government. Our goal is to engage in a differentiated exchange that appropriately reflects the significance and role of civil society in its full scope. Of course, in accordance with our "Principles of Good Foundation Practice" , we remain open to (self-)critical discussions on issues of governance and transparency in the work of foundations and nonprofit institutions.

After the end of a polarizing election campaign, we call on all democratic parties to return to a fact-based, respectful approach to civil society organizations, even when their voices may be uncomfortable at times. Only through solidarity can we address our country’s pressing future challenges. The voluntary engagement of nearly 30 million citizens is indispensable for this.

About the Federal Association

The Federal Association of German Foundations represents the interests of German foundations in relation to politics and society. With more than 4,300 members, it is the largest and oldest foundation association in Europe. Through foundation administrations, around 9,800 foundations are affiliated with it. The Federal Association advocates for optimal framework conditions for foundations and their activities and supports its members as well as donors, particularly through consulting and networking.

The Federal Association of German Foundations is registered in the lobby register for representation of interests before the German Bundestag and the federal government. It exercises its advocacy activities in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Interest Representatives under the Lobby Register Act.

Registration entry: R004378

Web: www.stiftungen.org