Finding a new consensus on European civil society values and their evaluation

BACKGROUND

EU values are enshrined in Article 2 TEU. They are the foundation of our European model of society and, as such, form an integral part of the everyday lives of European citizens. Civil society organisations (CSOs) play a crucial role both in the promotion of these values and in their implementation. However – as clearly emerges from the study commissioned by the EESC in 2015 entitled "The future evolution of civil society in the European Union by 2030" – one of the common challenges that European CSOs are currently facing is the decline  of  their advocacy role. Indeed, despite the varying histories and general differences among European CSOs, CSO sectors across Europe are becoming increasingly similar in the way they respond to the five major societal trends identified in the above study, and which have had the greatest effect on European CSOs (demographic changes, economic crisis, populism, shrinking civic space and digitalisation).

As a result of this, EU values seem to be losing ground in favour of other ideas.

The focus of the study will be on EU values (a few to be selected  by the tenderer among those indicated in Article 2 TEU). The main question to be explored is which core values drive citizens and societal change and whether the CSOs are and will be able to endorse them in 2030 and beyond. In particular, the study will assess the capacity – or otherwise – of CSOs to respond to citizen's values, represent and promote these values, the reasons and factors of this (in,) capacity, indicate the state of play regarding their response, endorsement and promotion. The study will also make projections of possible future changes (e.g. which values will acquire or lose prominence or will change or disappear) and investigate factors enabling CSOs to promote them and fulfil their advocacy role now and in the future.

Part of the study will be based on already existing documentation (EESC opinions and studies, materials produced by other EU institutions) as well as studies and surveys from other relevant bodies.

Access to the above data and the ability of the potential contractor to provide a clear indication of the added value of the study is paramount. This could include, for example, providing an idea of what is missing from the existing work and what the study could contribute in this regard and, in this context, which values should be explored.

 

Languages/geographical area

The study should be carried out in English.

Indicative calendar

(schedule may be subject to change)

Work should start in January 2020 and end in June 2020 (schedule may be subject to change).

Contact

Deadline

Sunday, November 3, 2019 - 10:59