Shrinking democratic space as a barrier to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the European Union – placing civil society at the heart of Europe’s fight against poverty (SDG1)

Practical information

Composition of the study group & calendar

Administrator in charge: Gabriela Grasu / Assistant: Clelia Campos Garay

This opinion focuses in particular on (Sustainable development goal) SDG 1 – No Poverty, recognising that more than one fifth of the EU population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Young people face structural insecurity related to employment, housing, mental health and participation, while older people increasingly experience poverty due to demographic ageing, rising living costs, energy costs and pressure on care and pension systems. 

For both younger and older generations affordable housing and the risk for homelessness are serious and growing problems. The specific objective of this own-initiative opinion is to build a comprehensive strategy and narrative around poverty prevention and eradication - in the light of protecting civic space, and strengthening public support for civil society organisations and democratic values. 

It is important to expose how shrinking democratic space directly undermines progress towards SDG1. It is equally important to contribute to bending the curve of growing poverty numbers in Europe (1/5th of Europeans live in poverty – ideally, this should be 0% by 2030).