For years, Social Platform has stood alongside many other civil society organisations to call for a comprehensive EU Civil Society Strategy. This demand was central to the Civil Society for EU campaign and pledge, which gathered the support of 105 elected MEPs from all across all major political groups.
The publication of this Strategy could not come at a more important moment for the protection of our democracy across the continent. Civil society organisations currently face many different threats and challenges, from funding to operating restrictions and exclusion from meaningful involvement in shaping decision making. This positive commitment by the EU to defend civil society acknowledges the essential role they play in democratic participation and reaffirms that an open civic space and a vibrant civil society lie at the heart of European democracy.
Yet, while the strategy represents a step in the right direction, there is a real risk that it remains only on paper if not followed by concrete actions.
We welcome several elements of the new Strategy. Particularly, the inclusion of a Civil Society Platform, that has the potential to be an important space for civil dialogue between civil society organisations and provide “a structured framework” for the European Commission’s engagement with civil society. To fulfil this role, however, the new platform must include the right mix of representative organisations, reflecting diverse communities and pan-European civil society, going beyond those represented through the EESC. The Civil Society Platform also looks to be limited in scope, specifying it is a space for engagement on issues of fundamental rights, democracy, equality and rule of law. These areas are vital for civil society to input into, however, we also call for structured civil dialogue to be established across other policy areas where civil society voices can also bring expertise.
We also value the plan for an annual meeting organised by the Commission and the EESC, but stress that this space must include policy-makers, not just civil society organisations, in order to ensure meaningful exchange and impact.
The adoption of 10 guiding principles for dialogue with civil society, focusing on partnership, transparency, representation, and accountability, is an important step. These principles should guide not only the Commission but all EU institutions and Member States in implementing meaningful civil dialogue. Nevertheless, we regret that the strategy does not explicitly reference the legal foundation for civil dialogue (Article 11 TEU), and doesn’t set the premises to deliver the inter-institutional agreement to formalise civil dialogue at EU level.
The strategy’s commitment to support civil society in the next EU long-term budget, including through Agora EU and external action, is welcome. However, it falls short of guaranteeing adequate, sustainable, and flexible funding for all roles of civil society—particularly advocacy, which is difficult to sustain through private sources and requires stable public investment.
We also appreciate the initiative to strengthen dialogue with philanthropy and work toward a Single Market for Philanthropy, which should lead to regulatory changes to achieve a Single Market for Philanthropy, enabling foundations, charity lotteries and donors to operate across borders without undue regulatory obstacles.
Crucially, the strategy still lacks a clear recognition of the role of pan-European civil society organisations, whose contributions cannot be secured through fragmented, trickle-down national funding.
Social Platform believes that for the EU Civil Society Strategy to be effective, the EU must uphold its commitments to enable civil society to thrive in a safe, open and enabling environment. It must strengthen meaningful and structured engagement in governance and provide adequate, sustainable and transparent funding. Only then, can civil society can continue to defend Europe’s values, support communities, and uphold democracy.
