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Roundtable on the European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive
On June 3rd, 2025, CSE with the support of the Greens/EFA held a successful high-level roundtable discussion on the European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive in the European Parliament. This event brought together distinguished colleagues from several member states, along with key representatives from civil society. Participants engaged passionately with the topics, discussing the benefits of…
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The Importance of EU Funding to Civil Society Organisations: Common Civil Society Requests for Operating Grants (OGs)
Adequate funding to civil society is essential for democratic governance, the protection of human rights, and the inclusion of underrepresented groups. Civil society organisations give a voice to the concerns of diverse range of groups in the EU, hold institutions to account, help shape policies that are responsive to practical needs, and contribute knowledge that…
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Standing for Democracy: Our Statement on the Democracy Shield
With the rise of authoritarianism and constant change in geopolitical alliances taking place, Europe must prioritise international cooperation while ceasing to rely on outsourcing aspects of its security. This begs the important question, what approach should be used? Our statement on the democracy shield outlines our stance – that a human-centred approach to security must…
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Several Civil Society Organisations Call for Rejection of Inquiry Committee on NGO Funding
Civil Society Europe, Transparency International EU, and the European Environmental Bureau call on the Conference of Presidents in our joint letter to reject the proposal to establish a committee of inquiry on the Commission’s funding of NGOs. In the ongoing attack against civil society, some MEPs from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the…
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The Need for Transparency is Clear – An Updated Analysis on the Transparency of Permanent Representations to the EU
Transparency of the institutions is required by the Treaties of the EU (article 15 TFEU), while the right of access to documents from the institutions is stated in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (article 42). This begs the question, how do the Permanent Representations of Member States to the EU hold up in this…
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What is the Role of Quality in Strengthening Civil Society in Europe? Key Insights From the CoQuality & CSE Survey
At a time when social divides are deepening and trust in institutions is eroding, the role of civil society has never been more critical. Across Europe, NGOs serve as pillars of democracy—defending human rights, fostering inclusion, and holding power to account. But too often, their potential is hindered by systemic challenges. 71% of small and…