Civil Society Enabling Environment
The circumstances in which civil society operates in a given country context, determines its enabling environment. A diverse set of factors shape these circumstances. These range e.g. from the level of education, tolerance and trust; to the inclination to participate and volunteer in society. The mechanisms that are in place to support civil society, civil society’s organisational capacities and resources; commonly referred to as the “civil society infrastructure”, also influence these circumstances.
The degree to which public authorities’ are open to civil society, can be found in rules and practices related to the respect of personal and political rights and freedoms, the right of association, media freedom and participation in policy dialogue. All of these are embedded in the legal and regulatory framework of a country and have repercussions on the work of civil society.
Finally, the access to means of communication, equality (gender and in society), societal ethics, integrity and the rule of law also have a strong footprint on civil society’s enabling environment.
Policy framework
The EU’s commitment to contribute to, protect and expand the space and the enabling environment for civil society, can be found in several external action policies and documents. These include the European Commission’s Communication: “The roots of democracy and sustainable development” (2012); The Council Conclusions from 2017 for EU engagement with Civil Society in external relations; the European Parliament resolution of 2017 on addressing shrinking civil society space in developing countries; and the EU Consensus on Development (2017).
The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, strongly commits to “develop tools to detect and respond to early signs of closing civic space and space for civil society, […] as well as tools to monitor opportunities of opening civic space” and to “the creation of a safe and an enabling environment for civil society as actors in their own right, including long-term strategic support to capacity building and meaningful participation of civil society at country, regional and global level.”
An enabling environment for civil society is furthermore a crucial part of, and foundation for, the underpinning fundamental principles of the Global Gateway Strategy - in particular the principles of democratic values and high standards, good governance and transparency, and the principle of equal partnerships.