European Commission opens call to express interest to join the Civil Society Platform by 3 August
Published on 6 July, the European Commission is inviting applications to join the Civil Society Platform – a new forum for structured dialogue and cooperation between civil society organisations and the Commission.
They are looking for non-profit civil society organisations working to promote democracy, the rule of law, equality, fundamental rights or civic space in Europe with experience working across several EU Member States and/or enlargement countries, and with an established track record of advancing EU values.
Members of the Platform will help shape discussions on civic space, share expertise and contribute to the implementation of the EU Strategy for Civil Society.
Find out more about the Platform, its eligibility criteria, the application process for the expression of interest and the Platform’s Terms of Reference below. The deadline to apply is 3 August and 30 organisations will be selected.
Civil Society Platform – Terms of Reference | European Commission
Civil Society Platform – Call for Expression of Interest | European Commission
About the Civil Society Platform
The Civil Society Platform was announced as a key deliverable of the EU Strategy for Civil Society. As part of the Strategy’s objective to strengthen effective and meaningful engagement between the Commission and civil society, the Platform will reinforce dialogue on values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), particularly on fundamental rights, democracy, equality and the rule of law. Over time, the Platform may be extended to cover other policy areas. The Platform will provide a regular and structured framework for engagement between the Commission and civil society organisations. By bringing together organisations that operate across multiple EU Member States and/or enlargement countries, who have a demonstrated track record of contributing to these objectives at national, European or international level, the Platform will address challenges faced by CSOs while strengthening their role in EU policymaking.
Another key deliverable of the EU Civil Society Strategy is the strengthening of dialogue between public and philanthropic donors, and between donors and CSOs, including via the Civil Society Platform, in order to exchange experiences, identify funding gaps and better ensure complementarity of funding sources.
If you would like to know more about the donor dialogue on civic space, please contact Hanna.surmatz@philea.eu.