The European Commission is preparing the first-ever EU Civil Society Strategy, a framework that will set the direction for how the Union protects, funds, and engages with civil society in the years to come. BCSDN prepared a contribution to the EC’s Call for Evidence on the Strategy, underlining one overarching principle: the EU must apply consistent standards of civic space protection and meaningful engagement both within the Union and in its external policies. Drawing on more than a decade of monitoring through the Monitoring Matrix and regional evidence, the text highlights the growing pressures on civic space – from foreign agent laws and smear campaigns to financial precarity and tokenistic participation – and offers concrete recommendations for EU action. We invite CSOs and networks across Europe to endorse our contribution, showing collective support for its principles and recommendations, and prepare their own submissions until 05 September 2025. Together, we can ensure that the EU Civil Society Strategy becomes a turning point for protecting and empowering civil society – in the Union and beyond. Read more here.
