About: civil society
EESC chief: Western Balkans’ EU path driven by civil society empowerment
The success of the accession process of the Western Balkan countries needs “meaningful involvement” of civil society organisations in the integration process, Luca Jahier, president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), told EURACTIV.
Auditors blast EU’s Turkey membership funding
Massive European Union funding to help Turkey's stalled membership bid has "barely addressed" key problems with democracy and the media, the bloc's spending watchdog said today (14 March).
How to turn citizens’ consultations into a success
Four conditions should be met if we want to make citizens' consultations a success and avoid turning the greatly anticipated initiative launched by France's President Emmanuel Macron and backed by 26 countries into a boomerang, which would irremediably drain trust in the EU project, writes Thierry Libaert.
Parliament doesn’t want to turn back time anymore
MEPs voted for the abolishment of Daylight Saving Time on February 8, especially since this would benefit human health.
A crazy idea for a Western Balkans innovation agenda
If the EU plans to use the same old carrots and sticks to push the region further into enlargement territory, we are all in a situation ripe for disappointment, writes Georgi Kamov.
EU needs to fund resilience against far-right surge
The EU should support independent media, education and civil society to halt the far-right’s erosion of the rule of law and fundamental rights, argues Israel Butler.
Elections: What should German EU policy look like?
The outcome of the German elections will also shape the future of the EU. What do German associations, unions and civil society organisations demand from the future government with regards to EU financial, social and trade policies? EURACTIV Germany reports.
Future of Europe: 10 tips for the old continent from its youth
Young Europeans do not need short-term, tokenistic initiatives but long lasting and sustainable solutions that make a real impact, and these need to be developed with input from Europe's youth, who have the potential to be the driving force of its future, writes Anna Widegren.
Four steps to empower civil society organisations to participate
At a time when civil society is being challenged by restrictive policies at national level, the EU must do its part to defend civic space, writes Kélig Puyet.
Civil society groups seek new tools to tackle populism
European civil society organisations are exploring ways to address the mounting pressure on them, clarify their role and empower themselves to tackle future social challe
EU human rights chief: ‘Civil society will push back the rise of extremism’
The rise of extreme parties across Europe is motivating people of good will to speak out and get activated, the director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights told EURACTIV.com.
EU civil society at a crossroads
Factors ranging from lack of funding to mounting political pressure have sparked a discussion regarding the future of civil society organisations in the EU.
Hungary’s justification of NGO law is false
In his response to a EURACTIV interview about Hungary’s NGO law, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács suggested that the Venice Commission approves of Hungary’s new NGO law. This is not the case, writes Heather Grabbe.
Germany voices ‘great concern’ over Hungarian NGO law
Germany voiced "great concern" yesterday (14 June) over Hungary's crackdown on foreign-backed civil society groups approved by parliament the previous day. In the meantime the Commission said it will “carefully analyse it”.
Greens denounce ‘Hungary-style’ attack against EU-funded NGOs
Green Members of the European Parliament have urged the European People’s Party (EPP) to withdraw a “Hungary-style report” about EU-funded NGOs and stop attempts to silence them.
Anti-government demo forms giant heart in Budapest
Thousands of Hungarians joined fresh protests in Budapest yesterday (12 April) denouncing the government's moves against NGOs and the respected Central European University founded by US billionaire George Soros.
Parliament report opens ‘Pandora’s Box’ of EU-funded NGOs
A draft European Parliament report calling on the European Commission to reject funding for NGOs that oppose the “strategic commercial and security objectives” of the EU is creating upheaval among civil society groups.
Opinion leaders identify seven pillars for ‘better’ EU action
CIVICO-Europa, an informal group set up by opinion leaders and later supported by politicians, presented today (20 March) a manifesto for the future of Europe, based on “doing much better together”, rather than the traditional way of “doing more”.
Hungary’s actions speak louder than words
Civil society is an essential part of any functioning democracy. While Budapest talks of dialogue and free debate, its actions speak of a slide towards authoritarianism, writes Neil Campbell.
Balkan candidates hope to reinvigorate EU bids with new strategy
Enlargement has fallen off the EU’s list of priorities and the Union is more than likely to shrink before it grows again. But the Western Balkans are still aspiring EU members and a new strategy has been developed that hopes to put them back on Brussels’ immediate agenda.
Signs of change towards Social Europe?
Progress has been made on social values, through the Commission’s Autumn Package. Fintan Farrell and Sian Jones explain what has been done and what is still left to do.
‘New partnership framework with third countries’: The Commission’s three basic mistakes
Diverting European Development Fund resources towards projects pursuing security objectives is wrong, writes Patrizio Fiorilli.
Ukraine’s state reform is a vital national security interest
Ukraine today is very different from what it was two years ago, before the Revolution of Dignity, not only because of the illegal occupation of the Crimea, and parts of the Donbass, writes Kálmán Mizsei.