A thriving civic space for upholding fundamental rights in the EU: a framework for future action

On 16 November 2023 the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU organised a conference in Brussels to identify future possible ways forward  on how to protect, support and enable a thriving civic space in the EU. The conference gathered more than 100 participants from national authorities, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, EU agencies, donors and international organisations. It was the concluding event of a series of seminars on safeguarding and enabling civic space, which took place earlier this year. 

Civil society organisations and human rights defenders play a key role in protecting and promoting the EU values of fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy. Both the European Commission’s 2022 report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the March 2023 Council Conclusions on the role of the civic space in protecting and promoting fundamental rights in the EU call on EU institutions and EU Member States to do more to support civil society organisations and human rights defenders.

The Commission remains committed to fostering a continuous dialogue with all relevant parties including civil society organisations, human rights defenders and national authorities at different levels, with a view to creating partnerships in a coordinated policy framework.

More information about the conference can be found on the dedicated webpage.

A report on the main outcomes will be available soon.