For press enquiries, please contact Benjamin Goodwin: bgoodwin[at]civic-forum.eu
ECF in the news
Some highlights from our press coverage in the international media.
EU Commission wants registry for foreign lobbyists
'The plan will be “deeply harmful to democracy and will fail in its stated intention of exposing covert foreign interference in EU policymaking,” said Alexandrina Najmowicz, secretary general of the European Civic Forum, an umbrella organization of NGOs and associations.'
We all lose if the Olympic surveillance state becomes the norm
'A gaggle of human rights groups – including Amnesty International, the European Civic Forum and Human Rights Watch – blasted the law, writing in Le Monde that it was “a worrying precedent,”'
Repression of pro-Palestine movements in Europe: the rule of law threatened, alerts European NGO
'The NGO estimates that at least 12 EU member states have taken disproportionate measures, including banning protests...'
20 international organisations call on the State to drop terrorism charges against Democratic Tsunami
'In a statement, they denounce that research limits fundamental rights and generates a "deterrent" effect on civil society. The text has been promoted by the European Civic Forum (ECF) and has the support of Amnesty International...'
More than 130 European NGOs express solidarity with the citizens of Serbia – an inspiring protest movement
More than 130 European NGOs have signed a statement expressing solidarity with the citizens of Serbia, calling on the authorities to stop the escalating repression of the anti-corruption movement, the European Civic Forum and the Balkan Network for Civil Society Development announced today.
The future of Europe: EU citizens take centre stage
'The EU is coming to the end of a major experiment in public debate: the Conference on the Future of Europe, ... What – if anything – has the conference achieved? Will true change come about? We discuss this with three guests who took part in the Conference itself.'
Pro-Palestine protests - between anti-Semitism and state repression
'Back in April, the NGO association European Civic Forum criticised in a report that numerous European countries had applied disproportionate repressive measures to pro-Palestinian protests.'
EU citizens’ panels likely to stay, but need to be adapted, experts say
'EU citizens' panels introduced after the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) mean deliberative democracy experiments will continue at the EU level, but they need to better adapt to citizens’ expectations and become more inclusive, experts say.'
Press Releases
EDITO: Fighting for democratic empowerment and resilience
Civil society is a cornerstone of democracy. But across the EU, NGOs are under pressure. In our Civic Space Report 2023, we explain why to create resilient democracies, we must empower civil society...
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L’UNION DES SANS-PAPIERS RECEIVES CIVIC PRIDE AWARD FROM EUROPEAN CIVIC FORUM
PRESS RELEASE - 13 July 2021 L’UNION DES SANS-PAPIERS RECEIVES CIVIC PRIDE AWARD FROM EUROPEAN CIVIC FORUM Version française Around 500 undocumented people have occupied the Beguinage church and sites at ULB and VUB Brussels universities for over 5 months. Over 430 undocumented people have been on hunger strike since 23 May 2021. Despite…...
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French Separatism Bill threatens fundamental freedoms, warn civil society organisations
8 June 2021 IMMEDIATE RELEASE French Separatism Bill threatens fundamental freedoms, warn civil society organisations The proposed French "separatism" bill («Projet de loi confortant le respect des principes de la République») could threaten rights and civil liberties, according to French and European civil society organisations including CIVICUS, the European Civic Forum…...
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Drifts towards authoritarianism across Europe alert institutions and NGOs
Representatives of the EU institutions and civil society have raised concerns about recent attacks on the right to protest On 3 December 2020, the European Civic Forum, together with the Spanish associations Novact and Iridia, organised a policy debate with representatives of democratic civic organisations and protest movements from across Europe as well as EU…...
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Civic organisations to secure a historic victory!
The European Parliament and the German Presidency of the Council of the EU clinched a deal on Tuesday 10 November, sealing months-long talks. The agreement foresees a significant increase in the budget for the Justice, Rights and Values programme, raising from 0.8 to €1.6 billion for the 2021-2027 period. The European Civic Forum, together with…...
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Citizens Take Over Europe
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS KICK OFF A CITIZENS’ CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE 27 April 2020 – This year’s Europe Day, the 9th of May, is marked by the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, by the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2 and by the terrible Covid-19 pandemia. At a turning point for Europe, civil…...
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