21/09/2023
In the opinion, the EESC:
- reasserts the key role played by civil society organisations (CSOs) in democracy, and regrets that EU support does not match the centrality of their role and responsibilities;
- supports setting up a financial instrument specifically dedicated to CSOs working on human rights and democracy within the EU, equivalent to the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) available for extra-EU activities;
- supports the establishment of a platform similar to "Protect Defenders" for human rights defenders working in EU Member States, and encourages the European Commission to set up an alert and monitoring system to deal with challenges and threats facing CSOs.