European Civic Forum

19/05/2026

13/05/2026

Our latest Civic Space Report is out now — and its findings are stark.

Civil society has continued to come under attack, with EU policies now playing a key role.

The report, written by the European Civic Forum and partner organisations on the ground, finds that restrictions on civil society are becoming institutionalised and mainstreamed across the continent, including unfounded accusations against NGOs in the European and national parliaments, the spread of “foreign agents” legislation and rhetoric, and restrictions on protest rights.

The report also finds that restrictive pattens are increasingly being taken up, legitimised, and reinforced at the EU level.

Head to civicspacewatch.eu to read the full report, including the 8 key trends in European civic space.

16/03/2026

🇪🇺💰 Aicinām pilsoniskās sabiedrības organizācijas piedalīties vebināru ciklā par Eiropas Savienības daudzgadu finanšu shēmu 2028.–2034. gadam!

Civil Society Europe sadarbībā ar European Civic Forum organizē vebināru ciklu “No vietējā līdz Eiropas līmenim: Nacionālās pilsoniskās sabiedrības organizācijas un daudzgadu finanšu shēma”, lai:
✅ veicinātu koordinētu un starpnozaru dialogu par ES daudzgadu budžetu;
✅ stiprinātu organizāciju kapacitāti iesaistīties budžeta plānošanā un interešu aizstāvībā;
✅ dalītos pieredzē ar organizācijām, kuras veiksmīgi ietekmējušas savas valsts pozīciju sarunās par daudzgadu finanšu shēmu.

📅 Vebināri notiks četros reģionālajos formātos. Latvija ir iekļauta Ziemeļvalstu blokā 18. martā plkst. 14.00 - būsim kopā ar Lietuvu, Igauniju, Somiju, Zviedriju, Dāniju.

🇱🇻 Latvijas istabu vadīs Latvijas Pilsoniskā alianse.

💻 Vebinārs notiks tiešsaistes platformā Zoom, ar subtitriem un tulkojumu latviešu valodā.

📌 Reģistrēšanās vebināram: https://ej.uz/tsvq

💡Šī ir iespēja pilsoniskās sabiedrības organizācijām ne tikai iegūt aktuālu informāciju par ES daudzgadu budžeta plānošanu, bet arī mācīties, kā efektīvāk iesaistīties politikas veidošanā un interešu aizstāvībā Eiropas līmenī.

11/03/2026

Lady Whistledown has a new bulletin! 🗞️

It seems the industry’s "Antwerp Summit" was missing one key guest: The People. While the industrial "ton" pushes for deregulation, a coalition of 270+ organisations is stepping into the spotlight.

Will accept the dance? 💃

16/02/2026

NEW: European CSOs document the state of civic space in seven EU countries

The reports, developed as part of the MACS project, will form part of our wider Civic Space Report which will be published in May.
The reports published today implement the new monitoring methodology developed as part of the protect and offer fresh insights and point to the actions needed to better protect civic freedoms in Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania.

MACS project brought together 9 civil society organisations, all experts in monitoring, to devise a new methodology to capture the state of civil society space in EU member states.

The ultimate goal? To help CSOs and the EU respond to threats effectively and promptly. That is why we also launched the Early Warning and Alert System in 2025, now fully operational with the on the new Civic Space Watch website.

Head to the comments to read the new reports, and stay tuned for our wider Civic Space Report in May!

12/02/2026

Out today: a new Civic Space Watch for a new era!

We’re excited to finally share the new and improved Civic Space Watch website, designed to meet the needs of the time and help us move from monitoring to action.

When it launched in 2017, the site was a simple (but novel) tool to collect information on civic space. Since then, it has grown into something much bigger — becoming the foundation for our annual Civic Space Report and a go-to resource for understanding civic freedoms in Europe.

As pressure on civil society grows and monitoring tools proliferate, we are taking the next step: moving from simple monitoring to a proactive, action-oriented approach.

Developed through the MACS, Net4Defenders, and PARATA projects, the new site reflects this evolution:

🔔 Alerting institutions: Acting as a hub to alert the EU and international institutions and others of emerging restrictions, using our Early Warning and Alert System.

🇪🇺 Tracking EU developments: A new focus on how EU institutions impact civic space across the continent.

🛠️ Action-oriented monitoring: Our alerts are now increasingly linked to concrete responses, allowing us to track updates.

🤝 Strengthening solidarity: Making more room for sharing victories and inspiring stories and providing rapid advocacy support.

We are also launching the Protection and Resource Hub, a dedicated space to find tools and organisations that offer protection. It is a living, evolving feature designed to be an invaluable tool for rights defenders in need.

Head over to the new Civic Space Watch and let us know what you think!

09/02/2026

Looking for a role that combines financial and organisational skills with a strong social purpose? We might have the job for you!

We’re looking for a Finance and Administration Officer to join our team in Brussels. You’ll help build our organisational backbone while fostering a culture of care, learning, and inclusion. 🤝

The ideal candidate:
- Is fluent in French and English 🗣️
- Has experience with EU grants management and reporting 📊
- Is committed to ECF's core mission ✊
- Has excellent organisational skills ✅

What we offer:
- Work-life balance: A four-day work week every second week ⚖️
- Flexibility: Hybrid working, plus the option to work from abroad for up to one month per year 🌍
- Compensation: A gross salary of €3,803, plus meal vouchers, public transport reimbursement, and a teleworking allowance 💶

Sound like a good fit? Apply by 15 February! ⏳

If you know someone who would be a great candidate, please share this with them or tag them below.

Head to our website or follow the link in our bio to find out more and apply!

09/02/2026

Looking for a role that combines financial and organisational skills with a strong social purpose? We might have the job for you!

We’re looking for a Finance and Administration Officer to join our team in Brussels. You’ll help build our organisational backbone while fostering a culture of care, learning, and inclusion. 🤝

The ideal candidate:
- Is fluent in French and English 🗣️
- Has experience with EU grants management and reporting 📊
- Is committed to ECF's core mission ✊
- Has excellent organisational skills ✅

What we offer:
- Work-life balance: A four-day work week every second week ⚖️
- Flexibility: Hybrid working, plus the option to work from abroad for up to one month per year 🌍
- Compensation: A gross salary of €3,803, plus meal vouchers, public transport reimbursement, and a teleworking allowance 💶

Sound like a good fit? Apply by 15 February! ⏳

If you know someone who would be a great candidate, please share this with them or tag them below.

Head to the comments to find out more about the job and how to apply!

13/01/2026

Natacha Kazatchkine has been appointed as the new secretary general of the European Civic Forum, taking up her post on 7 January.

Natacha brings a wealth of experience to the role, having spent years as championing fundamental rights and civil society empowerment, including most recently at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and Amnesty International. Her deep expertise in human rights and EU affairs and her commitment to defending civic space make her an ideal leader to guide ECF into a new era.

Commenting on her appointment, Natacha said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the European Civic Forum at a time when its work has never been more important.

“Open civic space is the most powerful and credible force for democracy, and the best antidote to authoritarianism.

“I’m stepping into this role with gratitude, passion, and commitment to the core of ECF’s mission: peaceful mobilisation for freedom and justice, civic engagement for the common good, and solidarity across borders.”

Natacha succeeds Alexandrina Najmowicz, who led the European Civic Forum with vision and dedication from 2008 until she stepped down in October 2025. Her leadership was instrumental in bringing civil society firmly onto the EU’s agenda.

During the interim period, Giada Negri and João Labrincha served as acting co-secretaries general, providing essential continuity and stability. Both will remain key pillars of the organisation in their new capacities, with Giada taking up the roles of deputy secretary general and director of advocacy and programme management and João becoming director of administration and network development.

Under this renewed leadership team, the European Civic Forum goes into 2026 in a strong position, committed to working for more equality, solidarity, and democracy in Europe.

19/12/2025

We're 20 years old! 🥳

Back in 2005, more than 300 representatives of civil society gathered at the Council of Europe to build a new network, based on democracy, active citizenship, and solidarity.

Two decades later, and the European Civic Forum is stronger than ever.

Check out our anniversary video to hear insights from our Co-President Rafaella Bolini and Vice President Jan Robert Suesser! 👇