Civil Society Europe and Social Platform are bringing together a broad coalition of civil society and philanthropy organisations to be vocal about the need for better civic space and civil dialogue all over Europe ahead of the 2024 EU elections.
Civil society plays a prominent role in addressing our multiple societal challenges. We protect and promote fundamental rights, provide crucial services that enable people and societies to be more resilient and more inclusive, and connect people – especially marginalised groups – with policy-makers. But we need an enabling space and dedicated tools and resources to do this, whereas the reality on the ground is that civil society actors are facing an ever-expanding list of challenges.
Upcoming EU elections are a key opportunity to turn the tide of shrinking civil society space and limited civil dialogue all over Europe, and ensure that civil society can become a permanent, empowered and engaged actor in future European governance and counterbalance the influencing power of big business and other actors.
For this reason, together with Social Platform, Civil Society Europe has launched a campaign for strengthening civil dialogue and civic space across the EU through better recognition, involvement and resourcing of civil society. We call on the EU institutions to take concrete steps to create an empowering environment for civil society during the next five years, starting from the development of a European Civil Society Strategy and of a Civil Dialogue Agreement.
How can you contribute?
It is crucial for all European civil society to stand together and speak with a single voice to make sure to be heard. We need to showcase the value that civil society brings to European democracy and societies, and collectively ask for this value to be recognized, promoted and protected.
Join us by endorsing the campaign manifesto!
Interested in hearing more about this campaign? You can get in touch with the campaign coordinator Riccardo Rossella: riccardo.rossella@civilsocietyeurope.eu