The European Civic Forum took part in the 2026 edition of the Civil Society Week of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) which took place from 2-5 March in Brussels. We co-hosted two sessions during the week, each gathering more than 100 participants.
The first covered the topic of Building an enabling environment for democratic resilience. The second, facilitated by ECF Secretary General Natacha Kazatchkine, was entitled Funding civic space: the role of the EU and other donors and focused on voicing civil society’s concerns regarding the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Image: © European Economic and Social Committee
In the closing session and in presence of the European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath, Nicolae Ștefănuță, vice president of the European Parliament, and the president of the EESC, Natacha urged decision-makers to take action to ensure sufficient, sustainable, and predictable funding for civil society organisations under the next EU’s long-term budget.
Image © European Economic and Social Committee
A final brochure was edited to serve as a report of the week’s key messages addressed to EU institutions and Member States. This brochure was presented on Wednesday 18 March before EESC members at their plenary session.
The Civil Society Week provided a unique opportunity to connect with European civil society organisations and to share our key recommendations to enable civic space in Europe, such as strengthening civil society participation and protection, improving EU funding mechanisms for civil society and effectively implement the EU’s Civil Society Strategy.