EPHA has contributed to the Defence of Democracy Package consultation. The Package aims at strengthening the resilience of the EU democratic space against covert foreign interference, through measures seeking to deepen previous initiatives and promote free and far elections, step up the fight against disinformation, support media freedom and pluralism, and develop civic space and citizens participation.
In the contribution, EPHA has focused on the questions related to the EU civic space and civil society participation. EPHA has welcomed the fostering of “an enabling civic space”, the recognition of how important that space is for our democracies, and the promotion of civil society and citizens engagement. EPHA highlighted the difficult context of civil society organisations (CSOs) across the EU, with organisations facing a shrinking civic space, as well as growing threats, attacks, and smear campaigns. CSOs also face difficulties in accessing sustainable funding opportunities. EPHA has also stressed the key role of civil society organisations, who comply with high standards of transparency and accountability, fulfil requirements at EU level, and hold transparency as a core value. Civil society organisations are the key to a vibrant and thriving European democracy, and mechanisms should be put in place at the EU level to protect them. In that regard, EPHA has reiterated the call for a Civil Society Strategy, strengthening the EU civic space and ensuring that CSOs are given a seat at the table and provide meaningful inputs in decision-making processes. This framework should also include provisions on the securing of sustainable funding for civil society organisations.
