EU support for an Enabling Environment
The EU is a longstanding global supporter of civil society as actor in its own right of good governance and development. The EU supports civil society’s engagement to contribute to democratic processes, more effective policies, equitable and sustainable development and inclusive growth. Currently, at the global level the main challenge for civil society and for EU cooperation with civil society, is the rapidly shrinking civic space and the continuous deterioration of an enabling environment for civil society. This is partly the result of authoritarian pushbacks against democracy and has intensified in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
To prevent further deteriorations and promote a sustainable and accessible enabling environment for civil society overall, the EU puts policy into action at different levels. At country level, the Roadmaps for Engagement with Civil Society are a common strategic framework through which the EU Delegation and EU Member States engage with civil society. The Roadmaps, also frame their support for the enabling environment for civil society.
Furthermore, a new global initiative, has kicked-off in addition to a continued mainstreaming of an enabling environment throughout all initiatives at all levels of the programme. The EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE) aims at strengthening the capacity of civil society at global, regional and partner country levels. Through improved monitoring and early warning, the EU SEE will inform and support EU wide actions on strengthening an enabling environment for civil society at all levels.