The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has published its “Civic space update 2023” highlighting the challenges faced by civil society organisations operating across Europe, including actions against those involved in representing vulnerable groups, as well as issues around funding for civil society The report highlighted a number of key issues which require action, including:
• Tackling restrictive laws which hamper civil society organisations in protecting human rights and prevent access to information or engagement in policy dialogue.
• Countering threats and attacks against civil society persist, with some policy areas having become more hostile and human rights defenders facing worsening intimidation.
• Providing funding to address the constraints faced by civil society, with some donors adjusting funding to support capacity building and advocacy. In addition, the EU raised its civil society funding.
• Engaging meaningfully in policymaking to address sporadic and ad hoc engagement of civil society in the policymaking process. The FRA drew its findings from research across the EU, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, including responses collected from almost 400 human rights civil society organisations. The full report is available at:
https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2023/civic-space-2023-update
