Human rights impact assessments are an indispensable part of the law-making process ensuring a rights-based lens on all legislative proposals. Within the EU, these impact assessments are anchored in the European Commission’s Better Regulation framework, which requires every legislative initiative to comply with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Charter).

However, the Charter is often overlooked during the lawmaking process, while a specific focus on civic space impact assessments of legislative proposals is missing, leading to risks of intended or unintended limitations to fundamental rights and civil society.

With civic space under increasing threat across the EU, dedicated civic space impact assessments should be introduced and systematically applied to all legal and policy proposals to ensure that they support civic space rather than restrict it. Currently, the EU is revising its Better Regulation framework, following the Commission Communication “A Simpler, Clearer, and Better Enforced EU Rulebook” in April 2026. This has sparked serious concerns about the risk of undermining evidence-based policymaking, transparency and accountability through weakening the quality and relevance of impact assessments, with potential detrimental impact on civic space and fundamental rights. 

To contribute to addressing existing gaps, we have created a briefing paper and checklist to provide a clear guide to civic space impact assessments in EU policymaking.