September is always a busy month in Brussels. Every year la rentrée ensures that summer holidays are soon forgotten about. This year, this is especially true. Speculation (and political drama) surrounding the unveiling of the new European Commission portfolios dominated the first half of the month. In the end, the announcement went down to the wire, with Ursula von der Leyen announcing the structure of her new team to the press just minutes after declining to do so in a meeting with MEPs.
At ECF, we’re carefully analysing the new portfolios to see what they mean for democracy, civil society and fundamental rights in the coming five years. There are things to look at with favour, as well as many questions that will need to be answered. To earn people’s trust, the institutions must put peace and justice, as well as human, social, and environmental security, at the core of EU policies.
We’re hopeful that this institutional renewal can be an opportunity to drive forward our key demands at the EU elections: a European Civil Society Strategy and a Civil Dialogue Agreement. Taken together, these proposals would recognise the essential role civil society plays in our democracies and give civil society the support, protection and platform it deserves.
And they are needed more than ever. As our latest Civic Space Report documented, civic freedoms have declined dramatically over the last five years, and this has continued in 2024. From “foreign agent” laws to funding restrictions, civil society is under serious pressure. However, amid these restrictions, we have seen incredible strength, courage, and persistence. Millions of people across Europe and around the world have taken to the streets and mobilised in their communities to fight for a better world. In mid-October, we will launch Civic Pride Month – a moment dedicated to celebrating activists and movements and raising their voices. The movements we have selected emerged from our report as those facing some of the heaviest restrictions, but who nonetheless have continued to champion their cause. We hope you will join us in celebrating them.
At ECF, our busy rentrée will turn into a busy Autumn. In addition to Civic Pride Month, we will hold three events, including the seventh European Civic Academy. But perhaps most importantly, we will continue our work to ensure that this new institutional cycle is one in which civil society and civic space are firmly on the agenda.