Civil Society Europe is partner to a Horizon 2020 project led by the University of Siegen in Germany as part of a consortium of seven European universities and civil society

Consortium Members
- Public university in Siegen, Germany;
- Masaryk University, Czech Republic;
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece;
- University of Siena, Italy;
- University of Warsaw, Poland;
- University of Belgrade, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, Serbia
The project, which has been selected by the European Commission among a highly competitive bid, is called “EnTrust – Enlightened Trust” , started in February 2020 and will run until the beginning of 2024.
The EnTrust project will seek solutions to important societal challenges: the erosion of trust and the rise of distrust in national and European governance in a context of multiple crises, which affect also trust in other institutions (markets, media or science). EnTrust will produce in-depth knowledge and increase the understanding of all political and social actors affected by current developments in order to propel those actions necessary to prevent harm to democratic governance and restore the relations between citizens and institutions.
The findings of this project will be an important contribution to current policy discussions on trust, accountability and transparency in governance, but also on the role of civil society organisations and civic movement as intermediary bodies between citizens and decision makers in building trust. It will also contribute to problem solving in these areas.
CSE is responsible for work package 7, which examines the (trust) relationship between pan-European civil society organisations (CSOs) and EU institutions. We analysed EU institutions’ legal frameworks and practices, as well as publications of CSOs, to understand the evolution of the relationship and current challenges. At the moment, we are carrying out a survey targeting CSOs at the EU level to understand challenges in their advocacy work and wishes for processes such as participation and funding.
EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENT | Online roundtable debate: Trustworthy Media | 9 February 2023 20 JUNE 2022 | ONLINE ROUNDTABLE DEBATE“Social movements as alternative arenas of political participation: mobilising citizens in the re-creation of trust and distrust”.
Find out more here.
10 DECEMBER 2021 | LUNCH-TIME DEBATE“Trust and distrust at the street level of public policy”
Find out more here.
30 NOVEMBER 2020 | ONLINE ROUNDTABLE DEBATE“Trust and distrust in governance: the role of media, science and civil society”
Find out more here.
15 JUNE 2020 | ONLINE ROUNDTABLE DEBATE“Trust and distrust in governance – what is at stake?”
Find out more here.
PUBLICATIONS
EUROPEAN POLICY BRIEF
The Role of Democratic Social movements in Trust & Distrust building
Read moreEUROPEAN POLICY BRIEF
Trust and Distrust at the Street-level of Public policy
Read moreEUROPEAN POLICY BRIEF
The theoretical and normative underpinnings of trust and distrust
Read moreIntegrated Report on Trust and the Media
Read moreIntegrated Report on the Role of Democratic Social Movements
Read moreIntegrated Report on Trust and Distrust at the Street-level of Public Policy
Read moreFirst Manuscript on Trust and Distrust in Governance
Read more EnTrust website
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 870572