In partnership with CIVICUS, FRA and Civil Society Europe, the European Civic Forum organised the debate "Protect Civil Society, Defend Democracy" on 22 March in Brussels. The conference also presented the findings of the annual report "Civic Space Report 2023 - FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRATIC EMPOWERMENT AND RESILIENCE".
Civil society is a crucial actor for an inclusive society and a functioning democracy and intervenes when fundamental rights and the rule of law are under threat. However, even in the European Union, civil society organisations and defenders of citizens' rights are subject to restrictive laws and frameworks of funding, limited participation, intimidation and harassment, among other restrictions. The annual reports of the European Civic Forum and CIVICUS Monitor - which are published every March - expose the deterioration of civic space, but also propose important solutions for resilience.
European and national institutions have an important role to play in guaranteeing, protecting and expanding the space in which civil society operates to defend democracy and the rule of law. The European Commission's Rule of Law Report is a key mechanism through which civil society raises national issues at EU level. In addition, the European Commission's 2022 report on the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which focused on civic space, underlines the need to protect, support and empower CSOs and fundamental rights defenders. However, the success of these tools depends on a commitment to turn findings into prompt and effective action to address the challenges identified. This is why, in June 2022, more than 300 civil society organisations called on the President of the European Commission to develop a European strategy for civil society.
În lumina celor de mai sus, Forumul Civic European (FCE), Societatea Civilă Europeană și CIVICUS au organizat o dezbatere care a implicat și decidenți ai UE, organizații non-guvernamentale regionale și naționale sub titlul “Protejați societatea civilă, apărați democrația”, pe 22 martie 2023. Scopul evenimentului a fost de a prezenta concluziile rapoartelor anuale privind spațiul civic și studiile în cadrul consultărilor privind statul de drept și de a dezbate modul de apărare a societății civile și a rolului său în societate și democrație. Acesta este un pas important în eforturile de a proteja și sprijini organizațiile societății civile și apărătorii drepturilor fundamentale în Europa și de a consolida democrația și statul de drept în Uniunea Europeană.
Facias is a member of CIVICUS (World Alliance for Citizen Participation), FRA (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights) and the European network Friends of Europe.