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31
March
2026

​​Civic Space Update: Enabling civil society to uphold EU values and strengthen democracy

Civic space is a crucial component of democracy and of societies founded on respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law. Civil society organisations across the EU face increasing pressure that limits their ability to operate. This report presents FRA opinions on how EU Member States can better protect civic space and support civil society organisations in safeguarding fundamental rights. The findings are based on data and information collected by FRANET, FRA’s multidisciplinary research network, and FRA’s consultation with CSOs participating in its Fundamental Rights Platform. It is complemented by desk research, interviews, stakeholder meetings and exchanges with intergovernmental organisations. It covers all EU Member States, as well as Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
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Key findings and FRA opinions

Civil society plays a crucial role in the functioning of a democratic society based on the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights. The contribution of civil society is also a key aspect of the whole-of-society approach that is needed to withstand the democratic, security and other societal challenges Europe currently faces. This has been recognised in numerous EU policy documents, including the EU strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter, the EU strategy for civil society, the European democracy shield and the EU preparedness union strategy.

However, across the EU, civil society actors continue to face a range of challenges that obstruct their ability to work safely and freely for the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and democracy. As European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) research shows, this includes hurdles in the legal environment, growing difficulties in securing funding, persistent threats and attacks on organisations and people, and underdeveloped practices in participation and consultation. Since 2018, FRA has documented challenges to civic space. The results of FRA’s civic space consultation covering 2024 indicate that 75 % of responding civil society organisations (CSOs) active in the field of fundamental rights faced barriers in conducting human rights activities (18 % often, 55 % sometimes). CSOs perceive a deterioration not only at the national level but also at the EU level. In response to a question on how the conditions at the EU level for CSOs working on human rights have changed in 2024, 22 % of responding organisations said they had greatly deteriorated, 48 % said they had deteriorated, 26 % said they had remained the same and only 3 % said that conditions had improved. CSOs that defend the rights of people in vulnerable situations – such as asylum seekers, religious or ethnic minorities, Roma and or LGBTIQ+ or homeless people – and those working on hate crime, anti-racism, and sexual and reproductive health and rights, report the most in-person threats and attacks.

This report recommends various actions at the EU and national levels to achieve a better monitoring of civic space developments, and support the development of national strategies and measures that prevent challenges to an enabling environment, protect civic space actors, secure access to funding and allow for enhanced participation and engagement in law- and policymaking.