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...

Benjamin Goodwin
Europe experiencing “dangerous rollback of civic freedoms”, warns damning new report in “wake-up call” to EU leaders
Rise of far-right accompanied by a deliberate strategy to delegitimise civil society, through smear campaigns, SLAPPs, and restrictive “foreign agents” legislation Right to protest increasingly under attack, with Palestine solidarity and environmental justice...
NGOs sound alarm over Italian Security Decree; urge action from EU Commission
More than 70 NGOs have sounded the alarm over Italy’s new Security Decree, warning it poses a serious threat to democracy amid a systemic deterioration of the rule of law. In a letter[1] to Michael McGrath, the EU Commissioner responsible for democracy and the rule of...
570+ CSOs call for an end to the attacks on civil society
Welcome to the latest ECF newsletter. In this edition: over 570 NGOs call for an end to the attacks on civil society, why we have developed an Early Warning and Alerts System, plus: stay tuned for our latest Civic Space Report!
European CSOs announce Early Warning System for civic space restrictions as part of the MACS project.
Today, we are launching the Early Warning and Alert System, aimed at systematising the collection of civic space developments, reporting on early signs of civic space deterioration, and calling on EU institutions to act before the situation further deteriorates. The...
Webinar: Early Warning and Alert System as part of civic space protection in Europe
10 April at 11:00-12:30 CET Organised by ECF and ECNL within the MACS project Across Europe, civic space is under increasing pressure. Fundamental rights such as the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly, and expression are being challenged by repressive...
Serbia repression: EU’s failure to act undermines trust in EU path, say NGOs in solidarity statement
Over 100 European NGOs have signed a statement expressing solidarity with the Serbian people and criticising the EU's response to the escalating repression of the anti-corruption movement. In the statement, coordinated by the European Civic Forum and the Balkan Civil...
February 2025: Is the Commission’s work programme really driven by democracy, solidarity and equality?
Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter. Inside, you will find our reaction to the European Commission's work programme, updates from our Net4Defenders project, information about last year's European Civic Micro-Grants, and more!
We are hiring: Civic Space Assistant (trainee)
We’re looking for a politically savvy, sociable and passionate person at the start of their career to support and contribute to our research and advocacy on civic space and democracy-related issues. Who we are European Civic Forum (ECF) is a pan-European...
We are hiring: Administrative and Financial Manager
Are you a professional in administrative and financial management, bilingual in French and English, and would like to put your skills to good use in an organisation working to defend civic space and civil liberties? Then this offer may be for you! Who we are...