Recognize CSOs from the enlargement region in the EU Civil Society Strategy

The global crisis of democratic legitimacy and the regression of the rule of law have pushed civic space into a downward spiral, with enlargement countries proving especially vulnerable. Weak institutions and geopolitical pressures leave civic actors more exposed to repression, co-optation, and marginalisation. Without a dedicated, context-sensitive approach, the EU risks weakening one of the few remaining sources of democratic resilience.

Today’s civil society in enlargement countries is tomorrow’s EU partners. Their early and structured engagement strengthens democratic integration and the legitimacy of policymaking.

Therefore, the upcoming EU Civil Society Strategy must look beyond member states and empower civil society in enlargement countries – or risk undermining both enlargement policy and the EU’s role as a defender of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

A coalition of 59 organizations from the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership, EU member states, and international think tanks has submitted recommendations to ensure the upcoming EU Civil Society Strategy strengthens and empowers civil society in the enlargement region.

Our key asks:

• Recognize enlargement CSOs as reform drivers & equal partners in EU integration;
• Protect civic space from repressive laws, SLAPPs, surveillance & GONGOs;
• Secure sustainable & accessible funding, beyond IPA, including new EU programmes;
• Guarantee meaningful participation in policymaking, accession & monitoring;

Full submission to the European Commission with 19 recommendations & a list of endorsing organizations:

Submission to the Call for Evidence for the EU Civil Society Strategy

Signed by: 

Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS)

Association of Companies for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities of the Republic of Serbia

ASTRA – Anti Trafficking Action

Asylum Protection Center

Balkan Civil Society Development Network

Balkans Group

Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP)

Belgrade Open School

Bujanovac Committee for Human Rights

Center for Policies and Reforms (CPR)

Center for Promotion of Civil Society

Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA)

Center Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV)

Centre for European Security Studies (CESS)

Centre of Policy and Legal Reform (CPLR)

Coalition All for Fair Trials

Committee for Human Rights Niš (CHRIN)

Connecting Europe

Cooperation and Development Institute (CDI)

ESTIMA

Europe Foundation

European Network of Migrant Women

European Policy Centre (CEP-Belgrade)

European Policy Institute (EPI)

Eurothink – Centre for European Strategies

Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society

Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP)

Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS)

Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS)

Human Rights Centre ZMINA

Hungarian Helsinki Committee

Institute Alternative

Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis”

Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM)

Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE)

Institute for Political Studies (IPS)

Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER)

Institute of Communication Studies (ICS)

Institut für Europäische Politik e.V.

Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI)

Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS

Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) 10

Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM)

Lobby in the Public Interest

Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC)

Macedonian Institute for Media (MIM)

Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society

National Convention on the European Union (NCEU)

Network of Progressive Initiatives

Network of the Committees for Human Rights in Serbia (CHRIS)

NGO World and Danube

Organization BIOGEN

Our Rule of Law (ORoL)

Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft e.V.

Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project

UNECOOP

University of Sarajevo’s Faculty of Political Science

Youth Initiative for Human Rights

YUROM Center