Civic Alliance – Latvia calls for increased funding for civil society in the state budget

The Civic Alliance – Latvia has compiled information on the opportunities for non-governmental organisations to contribute to the development of the state budget.

Security and demography are priorities in this year’s Latvian state budget, and ministries are therefore expected to prioritise and reallocate resources accordingly. At the same time, the Civic Alliance – Latvia continues to advocate for the interests of the non-governmental sector and calls for sustainable funding in the state budget for the activities and development of civil society, often closely linked to security issues.

In a letter to the Prime Minister and the government, the Alliance calls for increased financing in the state budget for the NGO Fund, the Co-financing Programme (which enables associations and foundations to attract foreign funding), and support for the development and coordination of volunteering through NGOs.

Photo: 2025 budget briefcase in the Saeima, Zane Bitere/LETA

Civic Alliance – Latvia celebrated Democracy week in May

The Civic Alliance – Latvia encouraged people to take part in the events of Democracy Week, which traditionally takes place in Latvia from 1 to 9 May. Organisations and activists were invited to celebrate democracy by organising events, participating in initiatives, or engaging in any other activities that strengthen and honour democratic values.

Democracy Week is a civic initiative first launched in 2020 to mark the centenary of the Constituent Assembly and the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Latvian independence. The symbolic name of the week is deliberate: it begins on 1 May—the day of the Constituent Assembly’s convocation, which is also the day of Latvia’s accession to the European Union – continues on 4 May, Independence Restoration Day, and ends on 9 May, Europe Day.

Proposals from non-governmental organizations on planned changes in EU fund reallocation

A member organisation of the Civic Alliance – Latvia, public policy think tank PROVIDUS, has prepared proposals on Latvia’s national position on the European Commission’s proposed amendments to EU fund regulations. The proposals were supported by 16 non-governmental organizations, including the Civic Alliance – Latvia.

The planned changes encourage EU Member States to reallocate at least 15% of already planned funding from the Cohesion Policy and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to support security and other emerging priorities. Member States that reallocate at least 15% of their planned investments toward these new goals are promised various advantages, such as the possibility to extend the implementation period of investment projects by one year.

The organizations emphasize that, while strengthening security is essential, such a reallocation of funds could result in up to EUR 660 million being lost from already planned investments in education, social protection, regional development, climate goals, and culture.

The organisations call for the following:

• Set a lower reallocation threshold than the currently proposed 15%, considering the changes Latvia has already made to EU fund investment programs in areas like security and other priorities.
• Highlight the need for dual-use solutions supporting projects that strengthen military security and provide benefits for civilian needs.
• Clearly define sectors that should be exempt from the planned reallocation, such as initiatives aimed at reducing social inequality or increasing social inclusion.
• Ensure that every potential EU fund reallocation is made thoughtfully and through a process that guarantees participation of civil society, municipalities, and social partners.

The organizations also point out that the Latvian government’s intention to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP should be implemented using appropriate funding sources, such as the national budget, defense bonds, or specially designed EU financial instruments, rather than diverting money from long-planned societal development investments.

The full set of proposals from the organizations can be accessed here.

Civil Protection Working Group of the Civic Alliance – Latvia develops its scope

At the beginning of this year, the Civil Protection Working Group of the Civic Alliance – Latvia began its work under the leadership of Inese Vaivare, Director of the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS). The aim of the group is to strengthen the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the field of civil protection and to ensure active participation in related decision-making processes.

Main tasks:

• Participate in civil protection activities at the national level;
• Strengthen cooperation with national institutions and other partners;
• Develop practical solutions to enhance the effectiveness of associations and foundations in the field of civil protection;
• Identify and reinforce the competences of associations and foundations working in this area.

The Working Group has established three thematic sub-groups to implement practical actions:

• Evacuation – to develop best practice guidelines for organising mass evacuations, drawing on international experience and NGO involvement;
• Communication and Information – to facilitate information exchange and coordinate the implementation of “Civil Protection Week” in Latvia;
• Advocacy – to promote practical cooperation at the national level and secure funding for NGOs working in the field of civil protection.