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.
The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) prepared a contribution to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the Strategy, underlining one key message:
👉 Without civil society, there is no democracy, no enlargement, and no resilience.
Why this Strategy matters
Across Europe – inside the EU and in accession countries – civic space is under pressure. CSOs face smear campaigns, surveillance, restrictive laws, and precarious funding. In the Western Balkans and Türkiye, these challenges are often harsher, compounded by fragile institutions and authoritarian influence. Civil society remains the most reliable driver of democratic reforms and a frontline defence against malign interference – but it needs stronger recognition and protection.
We stress 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. Civil society in accession countries and in EU member states be guided by the same standards and should benefit from the same recognition, safeguards, and opportunities.
What we recommend
In its submission, BCSDN calls on the Commission to make the Strategy ambitious, actionable, and enforceable. Key recommendations, among other, include:
-
Protection: An EU-wide mechanism for human rights defenders and CSOs under threat, effective Anti-SLAPP implementation (including in enlargement countries), risk-based AML/CFT rules, and proactive measures against smear campaigns and government-organised NGOs (GONGOs).
-
Funding: Sustainable, core, and predictable support; direct access for local CSOs; safeguards against political capture; fair frameworks for philanthropy; and integration of civic space into the next MFF (2028–2034), AgoraEU, the Growth Plan, and the WBIF.
-
Participation: Binding rules for civil dialogue under Article 11 TEU; an EU Civil Society Platform to monitor Strategy implementation; annual reporting obligations for governments; and clear inclusion of enlargement CSOs in all EU participation frameworks.
A collective effort
The legitimacy and impact of this Strategy will depend on the strength of voices calling for it. BCSDN’s submission is one step, but the more contributions received, the clearer the message to the European Commission: civil society across Europe demands equal standards, real protection, sustainable funding, and meaningful participation.
We invite civil society organizations and networks across Europe to:
-
Endorse our contribution to the Call for Evidence, showing collective support for its principles and recommendations.
-
Prepare your own submissions using our arguments as a reference point and adapting them to your national context. The deadline for submissions is 05 September.
Read & Endorse
📄 Download BCSDN’s full contribution here.
✍️ Sign on to support the submission.
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.