W4 - Protecting Civil Society in the European Union | Quizlet

democracy under threat

Civilians don't feel they are represented, difficulty engaging with their govs → growing public distrust towards democratic institutions

Foreign info manipulation, interference in the context of elections (e.g. Romania)

Lack of transparency (AI and political content)

Declining opportunities for citizens to access info and news from independent/trustworthy media

Limited opportunities for citizens to participate

= affects citizens perception of democracy / that they can have political influence

What is a CSO

= civil society organisation

they are:

• Non-state → independent, not connected to state structures

• Non-profit 

• Independent 

• Non-partisan → not political 

• Non-violent → civil disobedience that is contested

they can be:

• Formal or informal

• Local, national, or international

difficulties for CSOs

- Excessive admin barriers (paying a fee, documentation, time it takes …)

- Lack of funding (e.g. if donations are taxable)

- Verbal or physical threats and attacks (bombs, litigation, being censored, sanctioned …)

= harder for CSOs to protect FRs, engage with citizens

areas of work CSOs

- Exposing corruption (watchdog function)

- Defending rights of individuals (underrepresented groups, marginalised people)

- Delivering services (education, healthcare, social services…)

link between civil society and democracy

• Democracy depends on citizen participation - participation way beyond elections only

• Trust in institutions is essential for democratic legitimacy 

• Civil society helps connect citizens to democratic systems. The Commission has made “Protecting our democracy, upholding our values” a major priority

civic space in Europe

= the environment that allows people and groups to participate in public life

requires:

• Freedom 

• Safety 

• Participation 

• Protection from intimidation

comment:

- Quite ‘minimalist’ definition (misses saying what will be done with that input)

- At the same time, no realistic that everything which can be achieved by CSO

constructivist/ideal way CSOs should operate: effectively operate (not burdensome) and able to participate in policymaking

current trend of the civic space

Civic space is deteriorating across the EU 

Examples:

 • Legal restrictions 

• Political pressure 

• Reduced funding 

• Harassment of NGOs 

• administrative/regulatory obstacles

european union agency for fundamental rights (FRA)

monitors:

1. Legal environment 

2. Access to resources 

3. Participation in policymaking 

4. Protection of civic actors

Key finding: overall decline in civic space across europe

threats and attacks faced by CSO

examples:

Migration reforms (Greece), CSOs given limited access to migration centres and engagement with national authorities 

Draft laws branding CSO and ‘foreign agents’ (Czech republic), labelled as threat to national sovereignty

‘Civicus’ NSO downgrading branches in eu countries bc of threats/attacks 

Donors withdrawing (USAID) - affects ‘independence criteria’ bc become reliant on certain concentrated/limited no. of donors

EP has oversight function on how the institutions spend money - scrutiny on NGO funding (although broad, different views according to political groups)

EU strategy for civil society

EU response: Commission Communication outlining support for CSOs and future committments

→ Most actions concern EU level actions and commitments

→ Some actions Commission will implement for national level, in cooperation with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Economic and Social Committee and other international organisations  

→ Member States are invited to implement a number of actions

the EU toolbox for CSO problems

- Infringements (art. 12 CFRs), commission suing MS

- Rule of law reports - 4th pillar on institutional checks and balances

- Funding to CSOs

- Support and training to MS

+ the new commission communication

EU strategy for civil society responses

Mixed reactions on the strategy:

- Positive comments from consulted CSOs

- Main criticism: commission communication not legally binding (soft law)

But there is value in making a political commitment(s)

3 objectives of the EU strategy

1. To strengthen effective and meaningful engagement with civil society as a partner in governance 

2. To ensure an open, safe and enabling civic space by providing support and protection to civil society organisations 

3. To support civil society organisations with adequate, sustainable and transparent funding 

objective 1

civil society as a partner in governance: strengthening effective and meaningful engagement

- various engagement already exist at EU level:

- e.g. ‘Have Your Say portal’ - the entry point for all contributions to legislative proposals, evaluations, fitness checks and communications through public consultations

- e.g. dedicated civil society dialogues in policy areas - in employment and social policies, the European disability platform etc.

- e.g. the Civil Society Platform (Operational as of 2026) - will reinforce dialogue on EU values. It will provide a regular and structured framework for dialogue on the protection and promotion of EU values … to enhance visibility and accessibility will function via a website + COmmission will organise an annual summit

how to achieve objective 1

commission will:

- Establish a Civil Society Platform to step up its engagement with CSOs active in the promotion and protection of EU values

- Organise an annual summit of the Civil Society Platform

MS invited to:

- Strengthen engagement mechanisms and policies in accordance with the principles

identified in the Strategy, including by taking further steps to fully implement Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/2836, as regards the effective participation of civil society organisations

objective 2

Providing support and protection: ensuring an open, safe and enabling civic space

- important that media and civil society organisations across Member States are able to operate freely and without pressure. Maintaining such a free and enabling environment requires monitoring and effective responses when threats or attacks arise

- The Commission has developed its own monitoring and assessment tools that also focus on aspects related to civic space. Under the Rule of Law reports, the Commission monitors developments in all the Member States and some enlargement countries

- Several pieces of EU legislation directly contribute to the protection of CSOs in the EU, e.g. Anti-SLAPPs Directive

how to achieve objective 2

the commission will:

- in cooperation with FRA create an online knowledge hub on civic space that documents existing civic space monitoring initiatives, reports and protection resources, at national, EU and international level

MS invited to:

- Develop or update dedicated national strategies or action plans to support, protect and

empower civil society organisations and foster a safe and enabling civic space

FRA invited to:

- Continue its monitoring and reporting on civic space, and to create a network of representatives from national and EU institutions and bodies, CSOs, and international organisations that work on civic space monitoring and protection, so that they can

exchange data, experience, and best practices.

objective 3

Adequate, sustainable and transparent funding for civil society

- CSOs need adequate and sustainable support to carry out their vital work, effectively engage with decision-makers, and continue making meaningful contributions to our societies. In this respect, long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding is key so as to provide the stability that CSOs need to operate independently and effectively

-  Several EU programmes support activities carried out by civil society organisations in different policy areas …, European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), , Erasmus+,  the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)...

how to achieve objective 3

the commission will:

- Facilitate dialogue between donors, and between donors and CSOs, including via the Civil Society Platform, in order to exchange experience, identify funding gaps and better ensure complementarity of funding sources.

-  Work to connect communities of pro bono lawyers with CSOs across sectors and in need of support

MS invited to:

- Establish and maintain an enabling legal and regulatory environment for CSOs and donors