A Strategy to Empower Civil Society Across Europe

At its July 2025 plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted a landmark opinion calling for a comprehensive EU strategy to support, protect and empower civil society. The opinion, requested by the European Commission, outlines a blueprint for a more structured, inclusive and resilient civil dialogue framework across the EU.

The EESC’s opinion on an "EU strategy to support, protect and empower civil society" comes at a critical time, as democratic values face increasing pressure and civic space continues to shrink in many Member States. The Committee calls for an ambitious and coordinated approach to strengthen participatory democracy, ensure sustainable funding for civil society organisations (CSOs), and establish a permanent platform for structured dialogue between EU institutions and civil society.

Building a Stronger Framework for Civil Dialogue

"Civil society is a cornerstone of democracy. We must ensure it has the space, resources and recognition it needs to thrive," said rapporteurs Pietro Barbieri, Peter Schmidt, and Christa Schweng.

Through this opinion, the EESC proposes a three-pillar strategy focused on:

• Creating a safe and enabling environment for civil society, including legal protections and mechanisms to prevent civic space from shrinking
• Ensuring sustainability and independence through multiannual, flexible funding and the removal of administrative and legal barriers
• Strengthening civic participation and civil dialogue, including through a new interinstitutional agreement and a civil society platform hosted by the EESC.

This platform would guide dialogue on democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law, host an annual civil dialogue conference, and monitor progress through a scoreboard and biennial reports. A pilot project, co-led by  the European Commission, the EESC and the EESC Liaison Group, would test this model and lay the groundwork for broader implementation.

The EESC as a Hub for Participatory Democracy

The opinion highlights the EESC’s unique role as the EU’s “house of participatory democracy.” With its extensive networks, technical expertise, and consensus-based approach, the Committee is well-positioned to host and facilitate the proposed civil society platform.

The EESC recommends establishing annual meetings with the European Commission to review the implementation of its recommendations, ensuring consistent follow-up and dialogue. It also calls for the European Parliament and the Council to reinforce their institutional engagement with civil society, including the EESC. Furthermore, the Committee advocates for the development of clear benchmarks and indicators to assess the quality of civil dialogue, both at national and EU levels, as a means to strengthen participatory democracy and policy coherence.

Civil society as key to democratic renewal

This opinion underlines that civil society must be at the heart of the EU’s democratic renewal. By investing in structured dialogue, protecting civic space, and empowering CSOs, the EU can build a more resilient, inclusive and participatory Union. The EESC stands ready to lead this effort, as a bridge between institutions and citizens, and as a champion of democratic engagement across Europe.