Polish “Civil EU Presidency” focuses on civil society building democratic resilience
Civil society actors, donors and policymakers from across Poland and Europe gathered at the Polish “Civil EU Presidency” event on 17 June at the Stefan Batory Foundation office in Warsaw to address the growing need to rebuild democratic trust amid rising geopolitical, social and environmental challenges.
Europe grapples with multiple crises: climate change, widening economic precarity, a war on the continent and changing approaches of the new US government as well as deterioration of trust in democracy and institutions. There is a need to rebuild citizens’ trust into democracy and institutions’ ability to address people’s needs.
The Polish Minister for Civil Society, Adriana Porowska, underlined that the concepts of democracy, rule of law, civil society and civic space should be better explained so that citizens can identify with them. There was common agreement that civil society is key to strengthen our democracies vis-à-vis current challenges and bridge to citizens. However, across Europe civil society, including philanthropy, is facing restrictive regulations and political pressures at national and EU levels. The European Commission, represented by Ingrid Bellander Todino, DG JUST, highlighted different initiatives under way to strengthen civil society space such as the new European Civil Society Strategy and Civil Society Platform as well as the democracy shield. The European Civil Society Strategy will likely include three pillars: Protection, Support and Empower/Engage. Everyone is invited to contribute to the ongoing consultation, which will close in early September. Philea and Philea members are already participating in dedicated engagement rounds this month.
Public and private funding and support for civil society will be more important than ever. Participants stated the concern that the EU is putting its focus on defence and competitiveness and will provide less support for democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights and social matters and civil society supporting this. Hanna Surmatz, Philea, contributed to a panel on the role of the next EU Budget and other public and private donors to support civil society in strengthening democracy and rule of law highlighting also the need for an enabling environment for philanthropy and for more structured dialogue among public and private donors. Ingrid Shulerud, former ambassador to Norway in Belgium representing the EEA and Norway Grants, suggested that the EU could learn from the EEA and Norway grants which give 10% of its funding to civil society. We hope that the call for a strong CERV will be picked up by the MFF.
Several panellists mentioned that it’s not only crucial to increase funding to civil society for strengthening the rule of law, rights and equality and democracy, but also how to do this. More core funding, simplified application and reporting procedures were mentioned as were increased use of re-granting and a need to reduce match funding requirements. The idea to establish a rapid response mechanism with special funding available to CSOs under attack was also brought forward. Ignacy Niemczycki, Chancellery of the Polish Prime Minister referred to the Polish Presidency conclusions as having “democratic resilience” at its core. 25 Member States, all except for Hungary and Slovakia, agreed on very robust and promising messages from the Polish EU Presidency. This was also picked up by Ewa Kulik, Batory Foundation who stressed that the Presidency Conclusions underline that democratic resilience requires a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach and focuses on the crucial role of the civil society organisations.
Read the Council’s Outcomes of Proceedings
Contact
