More than 70 NGOs have sounded the alarm over Italy’s new Security Decree, warning it poses a serious threat to democracy amid a systemic deterioration of the rule of law. In a letter[1] to Michael McGrath, the EU Commissioner responsible for democracy and the rule of...
To: Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Tuesday, 27 May 2025, Brussels Subject: Urgent call to address democratic backsliding, civic space and rule of law deterioration in Italy Dear...
More than 330 organisations write to EU leaders, urging them to increase support to civil society in the next multiannual financial framework.
Today, we are launching the Early Warning and Alert System, aimed at systematising the collection of civic space developments, reporting on early signs of civic space deterioration, and calling on EU institutions to act before the situation further deteriorates. The...
Representatives of European civil society express their solidarity with the people of Serbia amid escalting repression.
Over the past few months, ECF has been enhancing the work on the protection of civil society and human rights defenders across Europe, including through the Net4Defenders project. As civic space continues to face growing challenges, strengthening advocacy,...
The European Commission has today published its 2025 work programme, including a pledge to introduce a Civil Society Strategy — a historic decision that follows years of campaigning by the European Civic Forum and organisations across the EU. In the context of...
This statement was published by Civil Society Europe. As the coordination of civil society organisations (CSOs) representing citizens, we believe that the EU must ensure the conditions for an open public debate on environmental issues, as well as on all other EU...
The repression of solidarity with Palestine continues in Europe, with the use of excessive force, intimidation and censorship among the most common restrictions, according to a new briefing from the European Civic Forum (ECF). One year on from the Hamas attacks...
Last month, Ursula von der Leyen presented her new team of Commissioners-designate, including Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law Michael McGrath. At ECF, we’re pleased to see that, in these mandates, the Commission recognises protecting...