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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 campaigners targeted Government ministers in several states question international human rights law Europe is experiencing a dangerous rollback of civic freedoms,…...
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250+ Civil Society Organisations Call on the European Commission to Allow Cross-Border
Non-profits should be able to operate across borders. The European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive would allow exactly that – non-profits with members…...
Participation Under Pressure – GFR Annual Review 2025
GFR’s Annual Review 2025 is now available. As in previous years, 2025 was not easy, but it was even harder to be a refugee- and migrant-led organisation in Greece. Policies hardened toward deterrence...
Natacha Kazatchkine appointed as new ECF Secretary General
Brussels, 12 January 2026 – Natacha Kazatchkine has been appointed as the new secretary general of the European Civic Forum. She began her position on 7 January. Natacha brings a wealth of experience...
We are in an era of massive mobilisation and growing attacks on civic freedoms. Europe’s democrats
By Giada Negri, acting co-secretary general and Benjamin Goodwin, communications officer, with input from the Steering Committee. History is not only shaped by political leaders, but by moments when...
We are hiring: Policy Officer
We are seeking a Policy Officer to strengthen our European policy work and support members in engaging with EU institutions and processes. The Policy Officer will…...
Civil Society Strategy: How to move from words to action
Welcome to the latest ECF Newsletter! As we head towards the end of the year, we're focusing on the new Civil Society Strategy, and why…...
European Civic Academy at the Nonviolence Factory & the Unsilence Forum in Barcelona
In mid-November, ECF co-organised two important Euro-Mediterranean civil society gatherings in Barcelona, bringing together hundreds of leading activists, human rights defenders, and civil society...
Western Balkan Civil Society Groups Sign Regional Declaration on Social Dimension of EU Pact for
Civil society organizations from across the Western Balkans have formally endorsed a joint declaration calling for stronger social safeguards within the European Union’s Pact for Growth. The...
Civic Alliance Latvia: A new fund to strengthen democracy and human rights is being established in
In November, work began on preparing an agreement between the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants Financial Mechanism Office and the Civic Alliance – Latvia to launch the establishment of...