European Economic
and Social Committee
Liaison Group Newsletter December 2025
A new strategy to put civil society at the heart of democracy
Civil society is not a decorative element of democracy. It is its beating heart. Yet, this essential infrastructure for a healthy, functioning Europe is facing significant threats, including the persistent shrinking of civic space. This paradox - where the most vital component of our democracy is also one of the most challenged - has been a core concern for years.
Today, as President of the European Economic and Social Committee, I want to drive a significant shift. This is only possible with the coalition of forces that includes the Liaison Group but also EU institutions and our national stakeholders. This is a core commitment for my mandate.
Last month the European Commission announced the new Civil Society Strategy as part of the broader Democracy Shield initiative . The Strategy is built on three core objectives: enhancing meaningful engagement, ensuring a safe and enabling civic space, and providing adequate financial support.
This is a direct and long-awaited response to the warnings EESC has issued for years. In recent months my collaboration with Commissioner McGrath on the Strategy has also helped bare positive results. Our own-initiative opinion on the civil society strategy and the Liaison Group reflection paper highlighted the mismatch between the crucial role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the insufficient support they receive. This isn't an abstract problem. It has real consequences. Across Europe, CSOs are "overburdened and exhausted" with staff working under "great stress, with enormous risks for their mental health." This precarity leads to a "loss of valuable expertise and commitment" just when we need it most.
This new strategy solidifies and enhances the EESC's foundational role in European civic dialogue. The document explicitly states that the strategy is designed to "complement the institutional mechanisms that already exist, particularly through the EESC." This is not just recognition, but a mandate for deeper collaboration. The EESC's new, central role will include several concrete actions including co-organising the annual summit for the new Civil Society Platform.
These developments are a direct and powerful validation of the vision outlined in my presidential work programme: positioning civil society at the heart of Europe. By creating an institutionalised, protected space for dialogue, this strategy helps build the "Union of security" we have been working towards - a Union that actively fights against the shrinking space of civil society and contributes to the Democracy Shield. It gives us the tools to turn this vision into tangible action and reinforces the principle that has guided our work from the beginning.
The Committee in its entirety, including the Liaison Group, has the responsibility to demonstrate why the EU is valuable to people, communities, workers and businesses and to sound the alarm where necessary.
While internal discussions will continue to shape the precise details of implementation, the direction is clear, promising, and long-awaited. We are moving from acknowledgement to action, ensuring that the structures of our Union reflect the fundamental importance of its citizens and the organisations that represent them. It is now up to all of us to ensure that this momentum is not lost. Let us work together to drive these reforms forward and build a Union that truly centres its people.
Seamus BOLAND
President of the EESC