Civil society is the beating heart of democracy, its pulse sustaining freedom and amplifying the voices of citizens. Civil society organisations build bridges where divisions threaten to take hold, fostering trust within communities and between states. Across the world, they drive progress toward more just and inclusive societies, advancing peace, sustainable development and human rights.

Yet today, this very foundation of democracy is at risk. Civil society workers and human rights defenders face online and offline attacks including surveillance, legal persecution and violent repression. Laws designed to silence dissent impose funding restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles, making it ever harder for civil society to operate. Peaceful protests are too often met with excessive force. Meanwhile, autocratic regimes increasingly expand their reach beyond borders, silencing dissenting voices through transnational repression. Time and again, civil society is unjustly labelled as foreign agents or enemies of the state as a deliberate tactic to erode trust in their work.

The European Union stands firm in its commitment to protect and support civil society everywhere. We will continue to speak out against repressive measures and deploy all diplomatic and financial tools to protect the fundamental freedoms that enable civil society to thrive – the freedom to associate, assemble peacefully and express views freely.

A resilient civil society is democracy’s strongest shield against authoritarianism. Their courage lights the way – our duty is to ensure that their voices are never silenced. On this day, we reaffirm our unwavering support for those who risk their safety to defend our rights.

Background

The EU adopted the Global Europe Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) programme worth €1.5 billion for the period 2021-2027 under NDICI-Global Europe. This initiative provides financial support to civil society organisations outside the EU.

In 2024, the EU partnered with a consortium of nine CSOs to launch the EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE). With a budget of €50 million, the initiative will monitor and support civil society across 86 countries by implementing an early warning system, which can trigger flexible financial assistance to enhance resilience and respond swiftly to changes in the civic space.

The EU has also established nine framework partnerships to advance the freedoms of association, assembly and expression. Four projects for a total of €27 million are already underway, aiming to empower civil society to advance human rights and defend democracy, including through the protection of independent media.

The Team Europe Democracy initiative, worth €19 million, brings together 14 Member States and the EU to foster a coordinated and strategic European response in support of democracy, in cooperation with civil society, think tanks and international organisations, with an important component on fostering civic and political participation.

The EU also continues to support ProtectDefenders.eu, which has assisted over 80,000 at-risk human rights defenders and their families since its creation in 2015. This mechanism takes a comprehensive approach, offering direct assistance, temporary relocation, training, capacity development and advocacy. In 2024 alone, ProtectDefenders.eu provided support to more than 10,000 high-risk defenders, 56% of whom were women.

Fostering an enabling environment for civil society is also a key component of enlargement policy. Through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), the EU has allocated over €350 million for civil society and media in the Western Balkans and Türkiye between 2021 and 2025. Additionally, under the NDICI Thematic Programmes for Human Rights and Democracy and Civil Society Organisations, the EU has committed €200 million to civil society actors in pre-accession countries and the Eastern Neighbourhood. Furthermore, through NDICI geographic actions supporting the Eastern Neighbourhood, the EU has dedicated €250 million over the same period to support civil society and independent media.