Civil society organisations across the EU are facing growing pressure which undermines their ability to safeguard fundamental rights and contribute meaningfully to democratic life, highlights the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in its latest civic space assessment. The findings are published as the EU begins implementing its first ever EU Civil Society Strategy, which aims to strengthen civil society engagement and ensure an open and safe civic space across the EU.

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FRA’s report ‘Civic Space Update: Enabling civil society to uphold EU values and strengthen democracy’ shows that civil society organisations (CSOs) are facing growing challenges amid geopolitical instability, disinformation campaigns, and deepening social polarisation. According to FRA’s analysis, 67% of human rights organisations report online attacks or threats, 60% report negative media coverage or smear campaigns, 39% experience politically motivated funding cuts and 36% excessive administrative controls or audits. Organisations also report increased interference with freedoms of assembly and expression, including at demonstrations. 

EU Member States are taking steps to better protect and support civil society, but comprehensive strategies to protect an open civic space remain an exception. The persisting pressure on civic space highlights the need for more coherent and long‑term approaches in line with the EU’s Civil Society Strategy. 

FRA’s report recommends the following action at EU and Member State levels to protect and strengthen civic space: 

• Improve monitoring: strengthen data collection and analysis of civic space developments, including of early warning signals. 
• Provide national support: develop or update strategies to protect civil society and address disinformation campaigns targeting civil society actors.
• Protect freedoms: safeguard freedoms of association, assembly, and expression, ensuring that legislation does not disproportionately restrict civic space. 
• Enhance participation: allow for timely and meaningful input from CSOs in policy and law making, including when conducting human rights assessments. 
• Protect civil society actors: enhance protection measures for organisations under threat, including emergency support, legal assistance, and cybersecurity. 
• Secure funding: guarantee broad and non-discriminatory access to funding sources and mechanisms, in line with international standards and EU law. 

In support of the EU’s efforts to protect civic space, FRA will work with the European Commission, civil society organisations, and international organisations to strengthen monitoring. This will include establishing an online information hub offering access to existing monitoring data, reports, and resources for protecting civil society. 

The report is based on data and information collected by Franet, FRA’s multidisciplinary research network. It is further informed by a consultation FRA conducted in 2024 with CSOs participating in its Fundamental Rights Platform. The findings are complemented by desk research, interviews, stakeholder meetings and exchanges with intergovernmental organisations. 

The report covers developments up to January 2025 across all EU Member States, as well as Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia.