In May, we launched the call for nomination Stories from the lockdown aiming at discovering and collecting inspiring stories of activists, associations, movements or groups of citizens who are organising solidarity and civic contestation and making policy proposals to ensure rights are at the centre of the response amid the COVID-19 crisis in face of a restricted…
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European Civic Forum contribution to the European Commission Consultation on its Roadmap for a European Democracy Action Plan Declining trust in democracy is a well-documented and worrying trend all over the world and Europe is no exception. In order to address the multifold expressions of disaffection about democracy, a good diagnosis of the causes must…
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Since the 9th of August, after rigged presidential elections, hundreds of thousands of Belarussians took to the streets to manifest peacefully their disapproval to oppressive authorities that violate people’s civic and economic rights and freedoms. Their fight for dignity and spirit of freedom has met with violent answer by the enforcement forces. Independent human rights…
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Following the General Assembly held online on 30 June, the European Civic Forum has officially 6 new member organisations, which now amount to more than 90. The members were invited to vote on 6 applicants, namely: Ökotárs Foundation, or Hungarian Environmental Partnership Association. The foundation exists for almost 30 years, it works on general issues,…
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Download in PDF | French version accessible here As stated by civil society actors and the European Parliament, the Council decisions about the EU multiannual budget are not acceptable. Mobilisation and institutional discussions have to redress its shortcomings and ill-directions. In the aftermath of the Council meeting, many Head of States reported on the outcomes with…
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The European Civic Forum condemns the retaliation of the Polish government against the re-election of Karolina Dreszer-Smalec, representing the National Federation of Polish NGOs (OFOP), for another term as member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) On 30 June 2020, the European Civic Forum held its General Assembly. The members unanimously condemned the…
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Together with over a 100 NGOs, ECF has published a policy paper on how the EU should end gag lawsuits, also known as SLAPPs. Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) are lawsuits brought forward by powerful actors (e.g. companies, public officials in their private capacity, high profile persons) to harass and silence those speaking out…
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Text available in PDF here | Letter in Italian | Letter in French UPDATE: on July 6, the European Civic Forum sent a follow-up letter to Mrs. Von der Leyen, Mr. Michel and Mr. Sassoli. You can read it here. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS Dear President of the European Commission,…
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On 27 May, the European Commission presented a budget for the next seven years, including exceptional funding of 750 billion euros for a European response to the crisis resulting from Covid 19. This budget tells much of the lessons that the European Commission is learning from the crisis. Essentially, it sees it as a time…
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On 26 May, on the anniversary of 2019 European elections, Connect Europe partners met online for the last event of the project to discuss with activists, NGOs as well as representatives of international organisations and MEPs on the importance of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Julie Roskilde from Nyt Europa opened the discussion reminding that, as…
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