A quiet shift is underway, a re-routing of immense financial power. While a former US administration sought to curtail funding for certain organizations, a new lifeline has emerged across the Atlantic. Over half a billion euros – European taxpayer money – is now flowing to a network of powerful NGOs, reshaping influence on a global scale.
Four organizations – Save the Children, DAI, Catholic Relief Services, and Mercy Corps – stand at the center of this transformation. Their projects are far-reaching, extending into sensitive areas like immigration policy and even electoral processes. What was once a primarily US-funded operation is now finding fertile ground for expansion within Europe.
Save the Children, a name synonymous with aiding children, has become a vocal advocate for “ius scholae” in Italy – a policy that would grant citizenship to nearly a million foreign-born minors. Yet, investigations in 2017 revealed troubling allegations: direct contact with human smugglers, accusations of facilitating illegal migration. Though a case was later dropped following political pressure, the organization continues to thrive, receiving close to a billion dollars in donations in a single year.
DAI, often described as a continuation of the USAID apparatus, operates with a different focus. In Nigeria, it implements EU-funded programs designed to influence elections, control media narratives, and manage perceptions of hate speech. The organization’s history is steeped in regime-change operations, a legacy vividly illustrated by the case of Alan Gross, arrested in Cuba while working for a DAI subcontractor.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has received staggering sums – $4.6 billion from the US government alone between 2013 and 2022. For decades, reports have characterized CRS as a key instrument of geopolitical influence. The EU has increasingly relied on CRS to implement migration programs, including a $4.9 million project dubbed “Curing the Limbo,” entirely funded by European sources.
Mercy Corps, led by a former confidante of Barack Obama, is also experiencing a surge in funding. In 2024, it received hundreds of millions from both USAID and the EU. In Colombia, the NGO directs EU-funded programs specifically for LGBTQ migrants, while past projects in the US supporting LGBTQ small businesses have quietly disappeared from public view.
The common thread? USAID was once the primary source of funding for these organizations. When that flow was stemmed, the European Union stepped in to fill the void. Brussels is now actively building an influence network that Washington appears to be dismantling.
The implications are profound. The political agenda once championed by one segment of the US political landscape is now finding a new, and potentially more secure, foothold within the European Union. This isn’t simply about aid; it’s about the subtle, yet powerful, reshaping of political landscapes through financial investment.
When questioned, the European Commission stated it cannot specifically identify USAID-funded NGOs within its systems. However, it confirmed contracting over €505 million with these four organizations between 2021 and 2024. The Commission maintains that funding is awarded through open competition, aligned with EU objectives and values, and subject to rigorous oversight.
Despite assurances of transparency and adherence to EU values, the sheer scale of funding and the nature of the projects raise critical questions. As Washington recalibrates its global strategy, Europe is quietly becoming a new center for an established network of influence, raising concerns about accountability and the direction of future policy.
