The endeavour of Reclaim Our Civil Space! started back in 2020 with 10 civil society organizations from 8 countries - Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Norway as an expert partner - and is coming to an end with this conference.
Venue: EFTA House Avenue des Arts 19H, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Date: 12. October 2023
In the past three years we addressed the trends of democratic backsliding and shrinking civil space in Central and Southeastern Europe. We helped local organisations build their capacities, facilitated cross-border networking among them and brought the voice of civil society organisations to Brussels.
We put together a set of recommendations to develop a comprehensive EU civil society strategy and advocated for its adoption.
This conference serves the purpose to present these highlights of the project from local to European and to review the state of our proposals for the civil society strategy.
In addition, we will explore the potential next steps towards a comprehensive European civil society strategy at the conference with regard to the upcoming European elections next year.
Online streaming registration is now open! Registered participants can follow the conference online. The link to join will be sent by email before the event.
Register here (online streaming)
Tentative agenda
9.00-9.30 Arrival, registration
9.30-9.45 Opening and welcome
- Tori Hoven, Director of the Country and Programmes Department
9.45- 11.15 Reclaim Our Civil Space! – from local to European: what did we achieve?
- Pecha-kucha presentations by project partners with Q&A
11.15-11.30 Coffee break
11.30-12.15 Regional cooperation and civil society in the EEA Grants – past and future
- Åsmund Eriksen, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Panel discussion with project partners
- Peter Medved, Ekopolis Foundation (SK),
- Ionut Sibian Civil Society Development Foundation (RO)
12.15-12.30 Presentation of the FRA report: civil space developments in the EU in 2022-23
- Waltraud Heller, EU Fundamental Rights Agency
12.30-13.15 The European Commission’s engagement to promote a thriving civic space in the EU – presentation
- Joachim Herrmann, Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Reynders
13.15-14.15 Lunch break and networking
14.15-15.30 What has the EU done to protect and promote civil society? Evaluation of current processes and what we hope for.
1) Follow-up of the Charter report
- Giada Negri, ECF
2) Defense of Democracy package
- Carlotta Besozzi, CSE
3) SLAPP directive
- Francesca Fanucci, ECNL
4) Rule of Law report and recommendations
- Linda Ravo, Liberties
5) Social Economy Action Plan implementation
- Hanna Surmatz, Philea
Panel discussion with Q&A moderated by Veronika Móra (Ökotárs)
15.30-15.45 Coffee break
15.45-17.00 What can civil society expect from the European elections?
Introduction: "Civil society for EU" elections campaign on civic space and civil dialogue
- Riccardo Rossella, Social Platform & Civil Society Europe
Debate with MEPs:
- Martin Hojsík (Renew)
- René Repasi (S&D)
- Andrzej Halicki (EPP)
Moderated by Laura de Bonfils, Social Platform
17.00-17.15 Closing and next steps
17.30 Reception
For more information please contact: Bálint Farkas at reclaimourcivilspace@gmail.com
Looking forward to seeing you!
