Exploring EU and Member States' approaches and options to addressing the shrinking civic space

The global trend of shrinking civic space poses a significant threat to fundamental rights essential to democratic principles, such as freedom of expression, association, and assembly, which contributes to the broader decline of democracy. This erosion negatively impacts the lives and opportunities of citizens. Civic space, as a concept, refers to the ecosystem that includes various actors who should be able to exercise their fundamental freedoms and engage in public policy-making to safeguard democracy. A healthy and inclusive civic space, whether online or offline, supports good governance, enhances transparency and accountability, and empowers individuals and civil society organisations.

This paper produced by ECDPM in the framework of the Team Europe Democracy (TED) Initiative examines responses to the shrinking of civic space. It explores how the European Union (EU) and its Member States (MS) can refine their approaches to address this issue, offering general reflections on potential ways forward. The findings are based on an in-depth literature review, policy research, a tailored online survey, and select key informant interviews. Read the report for more information.