EU Civil Society Strategy – about the initiative
Civil society organizations are essential to democracy, social cohesion, and resilience in Europe. They face shrinking civic space, legal harassment, funding restrictions, and digital threats. A strong European Civil Society Strategy should secure their role through four main pillars: Engage, Protect, Support, Enable.
ENGAGE – Strengthening Dialogue and Participation
The EU should create a permanent civil dialogue framework through an inter-institutional agreement under Article 11 TEU. Dialogue must be transparent, inclusive, representative, and grounded in EU values. Clear eligibility criteria and monitoring systems are needed for CSO participation. One European Commissioner should coordinate and oversee dialogue. CSO representation in the European Economic and Social Committee should be harmonized, and a new Civil Society Platform within the Commission should include grassroots actors. Commission and Parliament offices in member states should systematically consult CSOs and support co-creation of policies. Cooperation between CSOs, governments, and business should be promoted.
PROTECT – Safeguarding Rights and Freedoms
Restrictive “foreign agent” laws should be opposed and misuse of transparency measures prevented. The EU should establish monitoring and rapid response mechanisms against legal, administrative, or narrative suppression of CSOs. Freedom of assembly and association must be safeguarded through binding commitments. CSOs and activists need protection from SLAPPs, harassment, and violence, with EU-wide anti-SLAPP and whistleblower legislation. Common EU standards on digital rights and cybersecurity are needed, including oversight of spyware and support for CSO digital capacity. CSOs should be supported in combating disinformation through funding, fact-based communication, and media literacy initiatives. The EU rule-of-law conditionality mechanism must include strong protections for CSOs and a new Democracy Resilience Fund should be created.
SUPPORT – Securing Sustainable Funding
Restrictions on CSO access to public funds should be monitored and reported, for example through the Rule of Law Report. Political tools, including Article 7 TEU, should be used to address funding suppression. The 2028–34 Multiannual Financial Framework must guarantee accessible and flexible funding, confirming allocations for the Agora Programme (8.582 billion euros) and the CERV component (3.596 billion euros). Grassroots access should be simplified by lighter procedures, re-granting, and reduced co-financing requirements. Multi-annual institutional support should be provided, including resources for staff well-being. Rapid response funding must be established for CSOs under attack. Philanthropy should be encouraged through tax incentives and by removing intra-EU barriers, with matching fund schemes created. Cooperation with philanthropic organizations should be strengthened.
ENABLE – Building Resilience and Capacity
CSOs should be recognized as strategic partners in societal and geopolitical resilience. Dedicated resilience-building funds should strengthen local roots, organizational capacity, and crisis response. A whole-of-society defence approach should include CSOs. Administrative burdens should be reduced. Investments in education, preparedness, and digital security capacity are necessary. EU-wide CSO networks should be supported for cross-border cooperation. Philanthropic capital must be allowed to flow freely and transparently across the Union.
CONCLUSION
The European Civil Society Strategy must provide binding protections, sustainable funding, and structured participation mechanisms. By engaging, protecting, supporting, and enabling CSOs, the EU will reinforce democracy, resilience, and public trust across Europe.
Read Feedback from: Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego (Stefan Batory Foundation)
