By the EESC Diversity Europe Group

A new EESC study on "The implications of COVID-19 on fundamental rights and civic space", which was requested by the EESC Diversity Europe Group, looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) and how measures implemented in individual EU Member States have impacted CSOs' ability to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms.

According to Filip Pazderski, lead author of the study, these are the main findings and recommendations of the study:

First and foremost, the pandemic has had a heterogeneous and complex impact on CSOs. On the one hand, CSOs were often the first to reorganise their activities, thereby responding faster than public administrations or business to local communities' needs. Moving their operations online accelerated digitalisation. All this has allowed CSOs to reach out to new audiences and increase the efficiency and scope of their activities. Building coalitions, fostering the exchange of experiences and establishing common public positions were made easier. As a result, the social visibility of CSOs has increased and there is now a better understanding of their day-to-day role.

On the other hand, CSOs have been strongly affected by the enduring health crisis. Financial difficulties were the most acute effect. In particular, smaller entities operating outside big cities and bringing together more digitally excluded groups were forced to suspend their work. Many of them have not resumed operations to date. Activists were faced with mental health challenges, fatigue from working remotely and growing uncertainty about the future, exacerbated by long-term social isolation. Work-life balance was often difficult to maintain due to work at irregular hours.

The pandemic has highlighted or reinforced already existing problems. CSOs' ability to operate has been hindered by extraordinary legislation, as this legislation has reduced the transparency of governments, impeded oversight of their work and restricted freedom of assembly and expression. These restrictions and curtailments happened under the pretext of countering the pandemic. Civil dialogue standards in law-making have dropped. CSOs have often not even been included in consulting laws addressing the impact of the crisis. 

To respond to these challenges, we need to provide CSOs with more flexible and accessible funding, ensure their meaningful participation in the monitoring of EU funds, adopt the EU Civil Society Strategy emphasising the sector's role, constantly monitor and respond to attacks on civic actors and provide a more structured framework for an open, regular and transparent EU civil dialogue. These are not new ideas, but the pandemic has given them fresh meaning. Moreover, the role CSOs have played and the visibility they have gained may help finally put these ideas into practice.

The final study was presented at the Civil Society Days in March. More information is available here.