From September 16th to 18th, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) organized an Expert Workshop on Civic Space Monitoring and Protection in Vienna. The event gathered experts, practitioners, and CSOs’ representatives to discuss the state of civic space across Europe.
The workshop aimed to connect key actors working on civic space monitoring, promotion, and protection across Europe, fostering collaboration for future initiatives. Participants shared insights on actors involved in civic space monitoring, the terminology and methods used, and the strengths and gaps in the EU’s monitoring ecosystem. Interactive sessions facilitated discussions on how policymakers and protection systems use monitoring data, emphasizing the need for coherence and synergy between ongoing efforts, both within and outside the EU. Participants also explored ways to enhance civic space protection, foster cooperation, and develop an EU-wide monitoring, early warning, and protection framework. Anja Bosilkova Antovska, BCSDN’s Head of Policy and Advocacy, actively contributed to the discussion by presenting the Monitoring Matrix methodology, a key tool for assessing and reporting on the civil society environment. She shared strategies for enhancing civic space monitoring using this methodology to strengthen protection and foster a more enabling environment for civil society in the Balkans. As a regional network, BCSDN’s involvement underscored the importance of investing in mechanisms that address civic space challenges in Europe and beyond.
After two days of discussions, participants explored the next steps and how to collaborate effectively moving forward. The event concluded by emphasizing the need for a unified EU-wide framework, integrating early warning systems and improved data utilization to strengthen the safety and resilience of civil society and human rights defenders while promoting civic space across Europe.