The EESC’s Civil Society Prize rewards innovative and creative initiatives that promote and have a lasting impact on European identity and integration. This year’s prize is being awarded in two categories – empowerment of young people in the context of the European Year of Youth, and actions in support of the Ukrainian people following the invasion by Russia.
The present catalogue of good practices is a collection of numerous successful initiatives implemented by civil society organisations in Europe in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The information set out in this catalogue was brought together in the framework of the study "The response of civil society organisations to face the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent restrictive measures adopted in Europe", commissioned by the European Economic and Social Committee at the request of the Diversity Europe Group.
As the COVID-19 pandemic hits societies and economies, bringing a global and unprecedented public health and social crisis, civil society organisations (CSOs) are responding by providing frontline help and defending the rights of people across the world. At the same time, CSOs have faced themselves profound impacts that may harm their capacities to continue playing their central roles in delivering services, advocating for rights and protecting the most fragile, while safeguarding participatory democracy and civic debate in the near future.
This study is conducted to better understand youngsters' relationship with the EU. The study examines 14- to 18-year-old youngsters' perceptions, and knowledge of the EU as well as their expectations towards the EU, and openness to the European diversity.
