Calling for a Civil Society Strategy for the EU
On the 5th of November 2021, the Diversity Europe Group – EESC (European Economic and Social Committee) in coordination with Civil Society Europe (CSE) and with the support of the EESC’s Liaison Group and Associational Life Category, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) successfully organized a Conference to examine and discuss the state of civil society organizations in Europe, the importance of CSOs in European democracy, the challenges they face in defending fundamental rights and civic space, and a variety of other connected concerns.
In his opening statement, Jean-Marc Roirant, President of Civil Society Europe, echoed the demand to strengthen CSOs’ cooperation. He mentioned“the denigration of CSO’s role as intermediaries in society, and the authorities’ increasing desire to undermine the independence of CSOs” as current challenges that civil society organizations in Europe face on a daily basis.
Fundamentally, one of the major outcome of the discussion was the call for an EU Civil Society Strategy and a European Statute for Associations. The EESC Diversity Group III indicated in its press statement that “appropriate follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) and a regular and structured dialogue with CSOs were considered key aspects to rebuilding citizens’ trust in politics and strengthening European democracy.”
You can read more about statement released via this link.
For more information and access to presentations carried out during the event, click here.