In its 2026 contribution to the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report, Civil Society Europe warns of a continued shrinking of civic space across the EU, with growing restrictions targeting freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to protest. The contribution highlights that restrictive trends are reinforced both at national and EU levels, contributing to the normalization of limitations on civic space and democratic participation. While initiatives such as the EU Civil Society Strategy and AgoraEU are seen as positive developments, CSOs stress that stronger and more coherent action is needed. Among the key recommendations are the introduction of a dedicated civic space chapter within the Rule of Law Report, more structured civil society involvement, clearer follow-up mechanisms for country-specific recommendations, stronger links between rule of law compliance and EU funding, and the development of preventive tools to address emerging threats to civic space across Europe. Read more here.
Source: Civil Society Europe