Civil society support and funding in the area of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy

Background:

Civil society organisations (CSOs) active in the area of fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law are encountering more and more difficulties as a result of various pressures ranging from regulatory challenges to financial constraints and concerted attacks on their work and credibility. Without the proper support, they are unable to fulfil their critical mission – to hold those in power to account and to have a role in formulation of new legislation.

What is most concerning is that the EU budget has so few resources dedicated to the support of CSOs, which results in a wide range of detrimental effects for their proper functioning.

Among other things, inadequate funding has a direct impact on the well-being of people employed in such organisations – apart from working under great stress, which carries enormous risks for their mental health, they also may have lower or uncertain salaries. This in turn weighs on the sector's competitiveness and ability to attract talent, directly compromising the quality of the CSOs' important mission.

In the EESC's view, the European Commission should urgently and adequately address the funding problems encountered by CSOs, which has led to shrinking of civic space across Europe. To this end, the EESC proposes concrete recommendations to better integrate these concerns into the European response.

 

Key points:

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.

The text of the draft opinion can be found here.

 

Additional information

Section: Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)

Opinion number: SOC/762

Opinion type: Own-initiative opinion

Rapporteur: Cristian PÎRVULESCU

Co-rapporteur: Ozlem YILDIRIM

Reference: Rule 52(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Date of adoption by section: 05/09/2023

Result of the vote: 86 in favour/3 against/4 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 21/09/2023

Result of the vote: 152 in favour/ 3 against/ 9 abstentions

 

Contacts:

Press officer:  Laura Lui           

Tel.:     00 32 2 546 9189

email:  laurairena.lui@eesc.europa.eu

 

Administrator: Jean-Marie Rogue

Tel.:     00 32 2 546 8909

email:  JeanMarie.Rogue@eesc.europa.eu