This contribution has been prepared by the working group on Civic Space of Civil Society Europe which is composed of CSE members, the European Foundation Centre as a partner organisation and several organisations working in the area of civic freedoms. We would like to thank in particular the following organisations for their contribution: Civil Liberties Union, the European
Center for non Profit Law, the European Civic Forum, the European Foundation Centre and Dafne, Greenpeace European Unit, the Lifelong Learning Platform, Solidar, and Transparency International EU.
As Civil Society Europe works primarily on the enabling Framework for civil society, our contribution will focus on this aspect. For a few years we assist to a worrying trend of restrictive measures in a number of Member States which is negatively affecting civic space and the ability of civil society actors to carry out their legitimate tasks. Civil society represents constituencies from a wide range of sectors; its organisations contribute to enhancing and promoting the effective access to civic, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights for many as well as mobilise through campaigning, advocacy and judicial proceedings when these are not respected.