By Giada Negri, acting co-secretary general and Benjamin Goodwin, communications officer, with input from the Steering Committee. History is not only shaped by political leaders, but by moments when ordinary people come together to push for change. The...
Joint civil society letter calling for boycott of NGO scrutiny working group
This letter was originally published by Transparency International EU. Dear Presidents, dear Vice-Presidents, As organisations dedicated to protecting the crucial role civil society plays in democratic policymaking, we are writing to express our grave concerns...
Joint letter: The EU must uphold hard-won protections for digital human rights
We 127 civil society organisations, trade unions and defenders of the public interest write to emphasise our serious alarm at the forthcoming EU Digital Omnibus proposals, part of a wide deregulation agenda. What is being presented as a “technical streamlining” of EU...
NEW BRIEFING: Strengthening democracy in times of crisis – Why the EU must invest in AgoraEU.
Europe faces a number of crises and challenges from climate change to growing precarity and inequality, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the change in the USA's approach to global affairs. At the same time, trust in democratic institutions is in decline across...
New Briefing: Towards a bold and meaningful Civil Society Strategy
Yesterday, Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the importance of boosting democratic resilience and trust during her annual State of the Union speech in the European Parliament At ECF, we have always believed that a key pillar to resilient democracies is a strong,...
Joint Letter: The EU weakens the rules that safeguard people and the environment
470 civil society, trade unions and public interest groups tell President von der Leyen, European Commissioners and EU Member States that our rights, planet, health and justice are not for sale The statement is also available in French, German, Spanish,...
Joint letter: Urgent call to address democratic backsliding, civic space and rule of law deterioration in Italy
To: Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Tuesday, 27 May 2025, Brussels Subject: Urgent call to address democratic backsliding, civic space and rule of law deterioration in Italy Dear...
Open letter on the Hungarian bill entitled “Transparency of Public Life”
President Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission European Commission Commissioner Michael McGrath Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection 22 May 2025 Dear President von der Leyen, Dear Commissioner McGrath, On...
Unprecedented Attacks on NGOs in the EU – We Call on All Democratic Forces To Act for a Strong and Independent Civil Society
European civil society organisations (CSOs) are currently facing an unprecedented attack coming from certain Members of the European Parliament. The attack, spearheaded by some MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP) and by the far- right groups, is fuelled by...
Joint letter: Strengthening and shielding European democracy with the upcoming MFF
More than 330 organisations write to EU leaders, urging them to increase support to civil society in the next multiannual financial framework.











