Civil society plays a key role in addressing complex societal challenges, yet it often lacks the support it needs. For this reason, Civil Society Europe and Social Platform coordinated the coalition campaign ‘Civil Society for EU’ in the run up to the 2024 European Elections. The support from civil society was crucial in making this a success with over 250 civil society organisations from across Europe endorsing our manifesto.

Together, we successfully engaged with European parties and mobilised candidates for the elections to show their dedication to civil society through the signing of our campaign pledge, which outlines several commitments to ensure the sector can thrive. In total, we obtained 434 signatures from candidates across all EU member states and across several political groups (Greens/EFA, The Left, S&D, Renew, and EPP). Among the signatories, 104 were elected as MEPs.

Following the elections, we continued to engage with supportive MEPs as well as with other relevant stakeholders in the Parliament and European Commission to ensure strengthening civic space is given the attention it deserves. Specifically, we continued to call for the launch of a European Strategy for Civil Society and for the appointment of a Vice-President responsible for dialogue with civil society within both the Parliament and Commission. A few months later, two Vice-Presidents in the European Parliament were tasked with maintaining and strengthening relations with civil society organisations, while in November 2025 the European Commission adopted the landmark Civil Society Strategy.

Towards the end of 2024, we also organised the event ‘Civic Pulse’,  bringing MEPs and EU civil society together to exchange ways to collaborate, specifically through creating an interest group on civil society in the European Parliament.

Following the campaign’s success, the Interest Group on Civil Society in the European Parliament was established as a space for strengthening dialogue between dedicated MEPs and the organisations that help safeguard democratic participation and fundamental rights, and cooperate on issues relevant to civil society. The launch meeting took place in October 2025.

More information on the group can be found at civilsocietyinterestgroup.eu.