ECF responds to President Ursula vonder Leyen’s State of the Union speech. Plus, updates from the European Civic Academy and Civic Pride Awards.
September 2023: State of the Union
read more
Benjamin Goodwin
Benjamin’s background is in communication, journalism, and political science. He has a BA in Politics & East European Studies from University College London and an MSc in Political Science from the Free University of Brussels. Benjamin joined ECF in September 2022 and works across all our communications – from social media to publications to our Civic Spaces podcast. He has an interest in environmentalism, human rights and international relations.
Civic Pride Awards 2023 – Celebrating outstanding activism
The Civic Pride Awards 2023 took place on 18 September in Brussels, celebrating four outstanding civil society organsiations and movements. The awards, presented annually, aim to recognise the inspiring work of civil society organisations and movements, raise their...
European Civic Academy 2023: Building collective empowerment
On 19-20 September, 100 activists, civic actors and academics gathered at the University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies for the sixth edition of the European Civic Academy. This year, the discussions focused on the theme “Building collective...
ECF founder steps down as Co-president; new leadership team elected
Jean-Marc Roirant has stepped down after nearly two decades at the helm of the ECF. At the General Assembly in Brussels, members voted to elect Vera Mora as Co-President alongside Raffaella Bolini, as well as voting in new members to the Board and the Steering...
JOINT LETTER: The AI Act must protect the Rule of Law
Liberties, ECF, ECNL and 60+ other CSOs call on EU lawmakers to pass an AI Act with robust safeguards for fundamental rights and the rule of law.
JOINT LETTER: EU policymakers: regulate police technology!
Civil society calls on the EU to draw limits on surveillance technology
in the Artificial Intelligence Act.
Summer 2023: European Commission publishes Rule of Law report
On 5 July 2023, the European Commission published its fourth annual report reviewing the Rule of Law infrastructure and developments in 27 Member States in 2022.
JOINT STATEMENT – EU Trilogues: The AI Act must protect people’s rights
This statement was originally published by EDRi on 12/07/2023 A civil society statement on fundamental rights in the EU Artificial Intelligence Act As European Union institutions begin trilogue negotiations, civil society calls on EU institutions to ensure the...
A missed opportunity: European Parliament upholds facial recognition ban, but fails to properly protect people’s rights in AI Act vote.
In today’s AI Act vote, MEPs failed to protect society at large, not to mention vulnerable groups like migrants and refugees, and voted against measures to introduce proper complaints and representation systems for human rights violations.
JOINT LETTER: Civil society call to restore the details of European Commission officials in the EU Whoiswho register
Over 110 representatives of civil society organisations have signed a joint letter, calling on the European Commission to restore details of its officials in the EU Whoiswho register. The letter, adressed to Commissioners Johannes Hahn and Vera Jourová, points out...