Antwerp Counter-Declaration: 270+ organisations call for democracy, transparency and stronger protections
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
More than 270 civil society organisations - including BeeLife - have signed the Antwerp Counter-Declaration, urging the European Commission to listen to the wider public affected by deregulation and to ensure that policymaking prioritises the environment and the rights of 450 million European citizens over the demands of powerful industry lobbies.
The declaration responds to growing concern that the Antwerp Declaration, promoted by major industrial actors, is increasingly shaping EU policy discussions around competitiveness and deregulation.
Organisations such as Friends of the Earth Europe, The Good Lobby and Corporate Europe Observatory — together with initiators including European Federation of Public Service Unions, Climate Action Network Europe, European Environmental Bureau, ClientEarth, Transparency International EU, Foodwatch, Zero - Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável, Jesuit European Social Centre, Legambiente, Deutsche Naturschutzring, REVO Prosperidad Sostenible and WEAll Iberia — warn that Europe risks entering a dangerous phase of corporate-driven deregulation.
Signatories highlight how key environmental, social and digital safeguards are being questioned or weakened through fast-tracked proposals and “Omnibus” packages introduced without robust scientific evidence, impact assessments or meaningful public consultation. At stake are protections that safeguard clean water, public health, biodiversity, labour rights and democratic accountability across the EU.
The Antwerp Counter-Declaration therefore calls for a different path: transparent and evidence-based policymaking, stronger democratic participation, and economic strategies that invest in a sustainable, toxic-free and decarbonised future rather than subsidising highly polluting industries.
To amplify the message, Friends of the Earth Europe also launched a creative communication campaign inspired by the style of a well-known TV series, using irony and familiar storytelling on social media to explain complex policy debates in a simple and engaging way — showing that even serious issues like deregulation and corporate influence can be communicated clearly, accessibly, and with a touch of humour.
