On 16 October 2025, the EU Internal Human Rights Policy Working Group of the Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN) sent a letter sent to the European Commission, raising concerns regarding the protection, participation and sustainability of civil society in the European Union.
While welcoming the forthcoming EU Civil Society Strategy, the letter urges the Commission to ensure that the Strategy establishes a comprehensive, rights-based framework including the following elements:
- An EU protection mechanism for human rights defenders and civil society;
- Systematic civic space and human rights impact assessments;
- Long-term, flexible and predictable support;
- Institutionalised, structured and inclusive civil dialogue;
- Strengthened monitoring and early warning systems;
- A positive narrative on civil society and HRDs;
- A gender-sensitive and intersectional approach ensuring meaningful participation of underrepresented groups.
Across the European Union, civil society actors – especially those working on human rights, environmental protection, equality, migration and anti-corruption, – face mounting challenges. National authorities have been increasingly constraining civil society’s capacity through smear campaigns, legal and administrative harassment, funding cuts and restrictions on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. These practices alarmingly undermine accountability, weaken public trust in institutions and erode the rule of law.
The ICJ and the other organizations stressed that by embedding these priorities across all policies and programmes and engaging civil society as a genuine partner in its development and implementation, the EU can build a more enabling, safe and participatory environment for those defending its core values.
Read the full letter here: HRDNLE~1
For more information please contact Karolína Babická, Senior Legal Adviser, ICJ at karolina.babicka@icj.org.
