Stand up for democracy - Speak up for Europe - Achievements report

When I took office in April 2023, Europe was at a crossroads: war had returned to our continent, testing our solidarity and our values. The multilateral and rules-based order was under strain, with new geopolitical rivalries, a changing transatlantic partnership, and direct challenges to the European Union and its institutions. At the same time, Europeans faced a cost-of-living crisis, high inflation, demographic pressures, and the twin green and digital transitions that are reshaping our societies.
In this turbulent context, one thing was clear: European organised civil society could not stand aside. Our role was – and remains – essential to defending democracy, building trust, and shaping transitions that leave no one behind. This is why our guiding pledge, “Stand Up for Democracy, Speak Up for Europe”, was not a slogan, but a necessity.

Oliver Röpke, President of the EESC April 2023-September 2025