The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) warmly welcomes the adoption of the EU’s first-ever Strategy for Civil Society. We are pleased to see that ample time and opportunity were given for civil society organizations (CSOs) to provide input for this historic strategy. Most importantly, we are glad to have the impression that the strategy looks beyond the EU’s internal borders, explicitly recognizing that civil society in enlargement countries is part of a shared, continuous civic space with Member States. We would, however, welcome stronger wording regarding accession countries and a clearer commitment to align the strategy’s goals fully within these contexts.
Alongside the Strategy for Civil Society, the European Democracy Shield reaffirms the human, inclusive, and cooperative spirit at the heart of Europe’s democratic project. This initiative fosters genuine accountability and transparency, not as imposed obligations but as natural outcomes of healthy collaboration among institutions, civil society, and citizens. Such cooperative frameworks are far more likely to safeguard Europe’s democracy and protect the public interest in a sustainable way than more intrusive, regulatory-heavy measures like those found in the Defence of Democracy Package. The Shield thus embodies a constructive approach, emphasizing partnership and resilience as the foundations for democratic strength.
We are gratified to observe that many of our advocacy priorities have been integrated within the strategy in a substantive way, including:
- Recognition of Enlargement Countries: The strategy commits to integrating candidate and potential candidate countries into relevant actions and associating them similarly to Member States, reflecting BCSDN’s principle that civic space protection is a continuum and common responsibility.
- Structured Participation: The institutionalization and standardization of in-country consultation of CSOs in meetings under association agreements directly reflect our call for formalized civil society involvement in accession-related processes.
- Civic Space Monitoring and Early Warning: The EU’s commitment to strengthen early-warning systems for shrinking civic space in enlargement countries and to establish an online knowledge hub with the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) resonates with BCSDN’s proposals for monitoring and alert mechanisms.
- Funding Reform: Section 4 of the strategy, on adequate, sustainable, and transparent funding, aligns strongly with BCSDN’s longstanding advocacy for CSO sustainability and viability. This includes support through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) and the promotion of long-term, flexible, and financial support-to-third-parties models, principles firmly grounded in our years of Monitoring Matrix research on enabling environments.
- Conditionality and Democracy Linkage: The strategy’s emphasis on candidate countries drafting roadmaps to strengthen democratic institutions and enabling environments for civil society mirrors BCSDN’s calls for concrete conditionality linked to democratic standards.
- Structured EU-level Dialogue: The establishment of a Civil Society Platform and an annual summit with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) institutionalizes the EU-CSO dialogue mechanisms that BCSDN has persistently advocated for.
- Recognition of Civic Space Benchmarks and Monitoring Tools: References to the Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in Enlargement, the CSO Meter, the EU System for an Enabling Environment, and other civic-space monitoring projects conceptually confirm the resonance of BCSDN’s Monitoring Matrix framework within EU policies.
The Monitoring Matrix standards and approaches promoted by these tools clearly resonate as part of the core values and benchmarks embraced by the EU’s civil society framework.
The inclusion of human rights defenders (HRDs) alongside formal organizations underlines the strategy’s commitment to a diverse and vibrant civil society. Looking beyond formal entities is crucial for fostering a dynamic sector capable of addressing complex societal issues comprehensively.
We welcome the strategy’s explicit recognition of civic space monitoring as a critical step for effective, evidence-based support to CSOs. This approach enhances the efficiency of interventions and strengthens civil society resilience.
In addressing funding challenges, the strategy’s section on adequate, sustainable, and transparent funding is directly aligned with BCSDN’s research and advocacy, including our recent report on donor support, civic space, and the future of civil society in the Western Balkans. Sustainable funding is especially crucial in this era of uncertainty.
We also acknowledge with concern the increasing reports from CSOs of threats, including attacks on staff and premises, smear and disinformation campaigns, and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). We are pleased that SLAPPs have been identified in the strategy as a common threat to both CSOs and journalists. We strongly support measures such as training for justice professionals on SLAPPs and litigation concerning Charter rights related to freedoms of association, expression, and assembly, which our 2024 research on SLAPPs in the Western Balkans highlights as a pressing need.
BCSDN looks forward to continuing its partnership with the European Commission and civil society actors to ensure effective implementation of this transformative Strategy for Civil Society, inside and beyond the EU.