Concern over European Parliament resolution on Islamist entryism and its implications for civil society

ERGO Network is concerned about the implications of the European Parliament resolution of 8 October 2026 on Islamist entryism and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood network, particularly for the participation, independence and protection of civil society organisations working on equality, anti-racism and fundamental rights.

The European Union has a responsibility to address extremism, incitement to violence, discrimination and activities that undermine democratic institutions. However, measures adopted in the name of protecting democracy must themselves respect fundamental rights and democratic principles. Scrutiny of organisations should be based on credible evidence of conduct, rather than religious identity, political positions or presumed ideological associations.

The resolution explicitly distinguishes Islam from political Islamism and recognises the need to protect Muslims against discrimination. These commitments are important, but they must also be reflected consistently in the criteria and measures the resolution proposes.

In this respect, paragraph 6 raises particular concerns. In calling for a European methodology to identify Islamist entryism, the resolution refers, among other elements, to institutional partnerships, activist reporting and the alleged misuse of anti-discrimination frameworks. These are also established means through which civil society organisations document rights violations, engage with public institutions and contribute to democratic accountability. The distinction between legitimate advocacy and conduct warranting investigation must therefore be clearly established and supported by evidence.

For Roma and other racialised communities, independent civil society organisations play an essential role in identifying structural discrimination, challenging discriminatory policies and ensuring that institutions are held accountable for their commitments. Their work frequently involves partnerships with European institutions, international networks and other civil society organisations. Such activities should not become grounds for suspicion without specific and substantiated evidence of wrongdoing.

ERGO is also concerned by the resolution’s references to narratives of systematic victimhood. Civil society organisations working against racism have long faced attempts to dismiss their findings or portray their advocacy as politically motivated. Yet documenting structural discrimination is indispensable to understanding inequalities that cannot be explained solely through individual incidents. Questioning the legitimacy of such work based on presumed motives risks weakening independent scrutiny of public institutions.

The resolution also raises concerns about the treatment of specific civil society organisations. Recital J refers to the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) in the context of allegations concerning ideological influence and EU funding. Paragraph 12 calls for organisations associated with the Council of European Muslims, including FEMYSO, to be denied access to EU institutions, removed from the EU Transparency Register and excluded from institutional events and meetings.

Although the resolution is non-binding and does not itself impose these measures, its political implications should not be underestimated. Transparent, consistent, and non-discriminatory criteria must govern institutional access, participation in consultation processes, and access to public funding. Organisational partnerships or associations should not, in themselves, establish responsibility for another organisation’s conduct.

ERGO expresses solidarity with ENAR, FEMYSO and other civil society organisations whose independence, legitimacy and participation may be affected by these allegations and proposals. All organisations must be able to exercise their rights to freedom of association, expression and democratic participation, and must have access to fair procedures when allegations are made against them. This does not preclude legitimate investigations into unlawful conduct or misuse of public resources, but requires that any such investigation be evidence-based and include appropriate legal safeguards.

These concerns extend beyond the organisations directly mentioned in the resolution. Minority-led civil society organisations frequently operate with limited resources and depend on European cooperation and funding to participate effectively in policymaking. Unclear criteria concerning ideological associations could discourage organisations from engaging in legitimate advocacy, maintaining partnerships or raising politically sensitive concerns. Such developments would undermine civil society’s independence and weaken democratic participation.

ERGO recognises the importance of financial transparency and accountability in the use of EU funds. Existing mechanisms provide for checks on financial irregularities, fraud and other grounds for exclusion. These mechanisms should be applied consistently, on the basis of substantiated evidence, clear legal criteria and appropriate procedural safeguards. Financial accountability must not become a means of introducing ideological screening or restricting organisations because of their legitimate advocacy or associations.

ERGO also stresses that efforts to address extremism and threats to fundamental rights must not contribute to the racialisation or collective suspicion of Muslim communities. Religious and political organisations differ in their objectives, practices and relationship to democratic principles. The same standards of evidence, accountability and protection of fundamental rights must apply consistently, irrespective of the religious or ethnic background of those concerned.

The implications of securitisation are familiar to Roma communities, which continue to experience discriminatory policing, racial profiling and approaches that frame their communities primarily as public-order concerns. While the circumstances of Roma and Muslim communities differ, both demonstrate the importance of ensuring that security policies do not reinforce racial or religious discrimination or marginalise the people whose rights institutions are required to protect.

ERGO Network therefore calls on the European Commission, the European Parliament and EU Member States to:

• Ensure that any follow-up to the resolution fully respects the principles of non-discrimination, freedom of association, freedom of expression and democratic participation.
• Refrain from introducing or applying criteria for institutional access, public funding or civil society participation that rely on vague ideological associations rather than substantiated evidence of unlawful conduct.
• Guarantee transparent procedures, proportionate measures and effective opportunities to challenge allegations or decisions affecting civil society organisations.
• Ensure that existing EU mechanisms for financial accountability and exclusion are applied on substantiated evidence, clear legal criteria and appropriate procedural safeguards, rather than presumed ideological affiliations.
• Protect the independence of anti-racist and minority-led organisations, including their ability to document structural discrimination, criticise public policies and cooperate with national and international partners.
• Assess the potential discriminatory effects of security-related measures, particularly for Muslim, Roma and other racialised communities, and ensure meaningful consultation with affected communities and independent civil society organisations.

European institutions have a responsibility to confront extremism, antisemitism, misogyny and all forms of discrimination. These responsibilities are not incompatible with the protection of civil society. On the contrary, independent organisations are essential partners in identifying rights violations and strengthening democratic accountability.

Defending European democracy must not come at the expense of minorities’ democratic participation or the independence of organisations working to protect their rights. The credibility of the European Union’s commitment to equality and fundamental rights depends on applying these principles consistently, including when civil society challenges the institutions themselves.

Link to the Resolution: Texts adopted – The need for an EU strategy to counter Islamist entryism and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood network – Thursday, 8 October 2026