CANOPEA

Elle fédère des associations qui œuvrent dans les domaines de l'environnement et du développement durable.

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ID: 183192748004-32

Lobbying Activity

26 May 2025

The European Democracy Shield should not focus solely on defending the status quo, but also on ensuring that democracy is fit for the future and that democratic institutions and organisations are supported over the long term. The aim of the Shield to protect EU democracy against foreign interference and disinformation and to uphold the integrity of democratic processes across the EU is laudable and necessary. However, safeguards against abuse of these objectives by governments, even within the Union, must be ensured. The shield for European democracy should not become a cover for governments to crack down on legitimate NGO, labour unions and CSO activity including attempts to limit advocacy activities and engagement in policy making, undermine political protests, restrict funding for civil society, shrink civic space, or damage innovative democratic participation that falls outside of traditional party politics. The implementation of the European Democracy Action Plan must protect civil and political rights and reinforce the role of civil society, independent media, and independent oversight bodies in building sustainable and equitable societies. In the creation and implementation of the Democracy Shield, we encourage the Commission to: ensure that innovative and inclusive participatory and deliberative democratic formats are promoted as a central element of the defence of democracy; ensure that a European Democracy Shield does not inadvertently weaken the protection of civil society and innovative democratic structures; remain vigilant to the risks which ill-formulated foreign agents' laws can pose to democracy and civic space, and act against all efforts to shrink civic space or freedom of speech, association and assembly in the Union including any attempt to limit funding for CSOs or any other additional measures seeking to limiting the operating space of CSOs; aim for a EU Strategy to support, protect, and empower civil society, which ensures holistic protection against direct attacks (such as SLAPPs), reduces administrative burdens, and provides structural support to address power imbalances (encouraging Member States to provide structural support), including: o Structured civil dialogue, in line with the recommendations in EU Civil Dialogue: The Foundations of an Institutional Framework; o Protection mechanism for human and environmental rights defenders as well as CSOs, according to the mapping and pathways papers of Civil Society Europe; o Operational support to enable CSOs to be structured and effectively engaged in EU policy development and implementation. The preservation of LIFE operating grants and the CERV fund, for example, is paramount to enable civil society participation and guarantee their transparency and accountability. Engage in any revision or adoption of EU legislation to ensure full respect for the legal requirements set out under the Aarhus Convention and best practices in the field, and in line with fundamental rights. A healthy democracy and a healthy environment are intrinsically linked and mutually reinforcing. They are dependent on connected societal programmes driving towards a safer, cleaner, and more equitable world (such as the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals). Solutions must be designed by and with people themselves, in cooperation with democratically elected institutions. Europes civil society organisations are working hard to promote citizen engagement and active citizenship, foster civil dialogue, and promote innovative democratic practices. These are invaluable assets that contribute to the EUs strength, resilience, and legitimacy. We are available to continue working with EU institutions to defend our democracy and promote social and environmental justice.

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Meeting with Céline Imart (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Apr 2025 · Agriculture

Meeting with Virginijus Sinkevičius (Commissioner) and

18 Nov 2022 · To discuss the recently adopted Commission proposal for the revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives