Today, Europe is grappling with complex and interconnected crises, including climate change, growing economic precarity, and an increased sense of insecurity following the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the recent developments in terms of foreign policy of the US administration. At the same time as these crises are unfolding, we are also witnessing the deterioration of trust in democracy itself and in institutions’ ability to protect fundamental rights and address people’s needs. Deterioration of social cohesion and disillusionment with institutions are among the most pressing threats of our time, as they are leaving societies vulnerable to internal and external actors seeking to dismantle democratic principles, the rule of law, and the universality of rights.
A robust civil society is instrumental in strengthening our democracies vis-à-vis these challenges, as they act every day to promote just, inclusive, and sustainable societies. Civil society organisations play a crucial role in fostering and protecting the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights; building European public space and participatory democracy; and mitigating the social costs of crises. However, civil society across Europe is increasingly facing restrictive regulations and funding policies, as well as political pressure that hinders its capacity to perform these essential roles.
This conference, building on the conclusions of the Civil Society Forum held in Warsaw on 26 June 2024 and the Civil EU Presidency organised by civil society shadowing the official Hungarian EU Presidency in Autumn2024, will bring together civil society representatives from Poland and from across the EU and Western Balkans, EU and Polish policymakers, and donors. It will provide an opportunity to inspire the EU policy agenda for the next five years in areas such as the defence of democracy, the rule of law, and the EU civil society strategy and how these are supported through the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The outcomes of this debate will be handed over to the Danish, Cypriot, and Irish civil society in order to inform the priorities of the respective upcoming EU presidencies.
Draft Programme
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration and welcome coffee
09:00 – 09:30 | Opening remarks — setting the scene
- Ewa Kulik-Bielińska, Board Member, Stefan Batory Foundation
- Raffaella Bolini, Co-president, European Civic Forum
- Veronika Mora, Okotars – Environmental Partnership Foundation, Hungarian Civil EU Presidency
- Karolina Dreszer-Smalec, President, OFOP – National Federation of Polish NGOs, Vice-President, European Civic Forum
09:30 – 09:45 | Keynote
- Adriana Porowska, Polish Minister for Civil Society, Chair of the Public Benefit Committee
09:45 – 11:00 | Civil society’s priorities for strengthening democracy, civic space, and the rule of law in Europe (Panel discussion on the key priorities for EU’s role in defending democracy, civic space, and the rule of law.)
Facilitated by Filip Pazderski, Head of Civil society programme, Stefan Batory Foundation
- Alexandrina Najmowicz, Secretary general, European Civic Forum
- Karolina Dreszer-Smalec, President, OFOP, Vice-President, European Civic Forum
- Ignacy Niemczycki, Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister
- Ingrid Bellander-Todino, Head of Unit Fundamental rights, European Commission, Directorate general for justice and consumers
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00 | The importance of public and private donors in supporting civil society to strengthen democracy and the rule of law (Panel discussion on how institutions and donors are answering the need to support civil society in strengthening democracy, civic space, and the rule of law in the context of the upcoming European Civil Society Strategy.)
Facilitated by Giada Negri, Policy and advocacy coordinator, European Civic Forum
- Monika Sikora, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy
- Ingrid Schulerud, Special Representative for Democracy and the Rule of Law, MFA Norway
- Hanna Surmatz, Head of policy, Philea – Philantropy Europe Association
- Ewa Kulik-Bielińska, Board Member, Stefan Batory Foundation
- Waltraud Heller, Lead on civic space and human rights defenders, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
13:00 – 13:30 | Closing remarks & next steps
- Closing remarks by ECF, Stefan Batory Foundation and OFOP
- Passing on the torch to Danish, Cypriot, and Irish civil society for upcoming EU Presidencies
13:30 – 14:30 | Networking lunch