Report on EU engagement with civil society

In the last five years the EU decided to take its longstanding support to civil society a step further. Major policy changes have been adopted to support 
civil society organisations not only as implementers of development assistance but also as key development policy actors, in their own right.

The EU has given an unprecedented role to civil society in its external policy by recognising and consolidating its role as an independent actor in foreign affairs, international cooperation and development. New local strategies, for more than 100 countries, have been established through CSO country roadmaps.

CSOs also play a central role in the EU’s external financing instruments, that they help to design, to implement and to monitor. Today, our annual EUR 2 billion support represents 73% of the world’s support to local CSOs in our partner countries. This makes the EU the leading donor worldwide supporting local civil society.

The attached report on EU support to civil society shapes out the many forms and examples on how this support is taking place and how Europe is strengthening its engagement with civil society worldwide.