The European Civic Forum has joined more than 270 civil society organisations, trade unions, and environmental groups in signing the Antwerp Counter-Declaration: Standing up for rules that protect democracy, people and planet.
Following this, the coalition formally invited European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to a Civil Society “Antwerp Summit” on 17 March in Brussels. This meeting is timed to take place just before the next European Council session to ensure citizens have a voice at the highest level.
Challenging the deregulation narrative
The Counter-Declaration responds to an industry meeting held in Antwerp last month. There, corporate leaders met with EU officials to push for a “Business Deal” based on cutting rules and “competitiveness.”
The groups signing the declaration argue that the current focus on “simplification” is misleading. While sold as an economic fix, research shows the cost of following these rules is as low as 0.1% of GDP. The coalition warns that weakening social, digital, and environmental protections for such small savings is bad strategy. It simply moves the costs of pollution or poor working conditions from companies to the public.
A seat at the table for 450 million citizens
The 17 March summit aims to ensure that those representing workers, communities, and the environment get the same access to decision-makers as industrial lobbyists.
The Counter-Declaration opposes “fast-tracked” rule changes that skip proper checks or public talks. These methods sideline civil society and weaken democracy. A healthy Europe requires that voices defending fundamental rights carry the same weight as those defending commercial interests.
By meeting this coalition, the Commission can show that European governance is transparent and works for all its 450 million citizens.