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 to the role, having spent years as championing fundamental rights and civil society empowerment, including most recently at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and Amnesty International. Her deep expertise in human rights and EU affairs and her commitment to defending civic space make her an ideal leader to guide ECF into a new era.
Commenting on her appointment, Natacha Kazatchkine said:
“I’m thrilled to be joining the European Civic Forum at a time when its work has never been more important.
“Open civic space is the most powerful and credible force for democracy, and the best antidote to authoritarianism.
“I’m stepping into this role with gratitude, passion, and commitment to the core of ECF’s mission: peaceful mobilisation for freedom and justice, civic engagement for the common good, and solidarity across borders.”
Natacha succeeds Alexandrina Najmowicz, who led the European Civic Forum with vision and dedication from 2008 until she stepped down in October 2025. Her leadership was instrumental in bringing civil society firmly onto the EU’s agenda.
During the interim period, Giada Negri and João Labrincha served as acting co-secretaries general, providing essential continuity and stability. Both will remain key pillars of the organisation in their new capacities, with Giada taking up the roles of deputy secretary general and director of advocacy and programme management and João becoming director of administration and network development.
Under this renewed leadership team, the European Civic Forum goes into 2026 in a strong position, committed to working for more equality, solidarity, and democracy in Europe.
ENDS