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Civil Society Europe

CSE

Civil Society Europe coordinates major EU civil society networks across social rights, democracy, transparency and civic participation, representing millions of people active in organisations throughout the EU.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Zoltán Tarr (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

25 Feb 2026 · AgoraEU

Meeting with Mario Furore (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Jan 2026 · CERV AgoraEU

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament) and European Environmental Bureau and

14 Jan 2026 · Attack against civil society

Meeting with Erik Marquardt (Member of the European Parliament) and European Environmental Bureau and

17 Nov 2025 · CONT Scrutiny Working Group

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament) and European Environmental Bureau and

17 Nov 2025 · CONT Scrutiny Working Group

Civil Society Europe warns Erasmus+ merger threatens volunteering and youth programmes

10 Nov 2025
Topic — EU budget proposal merges European Solidarity Corps into Erasmus+ programme for 2028-2034.
Message — The organisation opposes merging the European Solidarity Corps with Erasmus+ without dedicated funding for solidarity and volunteering. They demand earmarked sectoral chapters and stakeholder involvement in programme design to protect smaller organisations.123
Why — Separate funding would protect their members from competing with larger, better-resourced organisations.45
Impact — Smaller grassroots organisations and youth groups lose dedicated funding and programme influence.67
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Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Oct 2025 · Exchange of Views

Meeting with Karlo Ressler (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Oct 2025 · Multiannual Financial Framework

Meeting with Alex Agius Saliba (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union

23 Oct 2025 · Transparency of Third Country Representation Directive

Civil Society Europe warns against merging culture and democracy programmes

20 Oct 2025
Topic — EU budget proposal merging Creative Europe and CERV into AgoraEU programme 2028-2034.
Message — The organisation requests clear budget allocation for cross-sectoral actions and protection of advocacy funding. They want civil society involvement in programme design through mechanisms like the Civil Dialogue Group. They oppose merging volunteering into youth programmes without dedicated solidarity funding.123
Why — This would preserve their advocacy funding and ensure civil society input into programme design.45
Impact — Grassroots and youth organisations lose out competing against well-resourced consultancies without sectoral earmarking.67
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Civil Society Europe calls for greater CSO role in EU crisis response

20 Oct 2025
Topic — EU funding for civil protection, emergency preparedness and crisis response mechanisms post-2027.
Message — The organization requests capacity building funding for civil society organizations in crisis response, including operating grants for CSOs working on civil protection. They want civil society included in the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network management and call for Member States to develop similar national structures involving local authorities and CSOs.1234
Why — This would provide direct funding and decision-making roles for civil society in crisis preparedness.56
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Civil Society Europe calls for safeguards in Global Europe funding flexibility

20 Oct 2025
Topic — EU budget proposals for post-2027 external action funding under Global Europe.
Message — The organization requests a fixed 93% share of funding meeting official development assistance standards, with annual budget commitments and concrete guarantees prioritizing humanitarian and development aims over political priorities. They call for spending targets on human development, gender equality, climate, and biodiversity, with dedicated funding for civil society support.123
Why — This would protect development funding from political shifts and ensure predictable support.45
Impact — Regions with greatest needs like sub-Saharan Africa lose predictable development funding.67
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Civil Society Europe criticizes centralized EU budget threatening social funding

20 Oct 2025
Topic — Reform of EU's long-term budget structure for 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework.
Message — The organization opposes merging shared management funds into centralized national programmes, arguing it cuts agricultural and social cohesion spending. They warn the 14% allocation for social policies totals around 121 billion, less than current funding when accounting for inflation. They demand maintaining explicit earmarking for social objectives and stronger stakeholder involvement in programme development.123
Why — This would preserve their influence over regional fund distribution and maintain dedicated social inclusion budgets.45
Impact — Vulnerable groups lose guaranteed funding protections as disability rights and social inclusion safeguards disappear.67
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Civil Society Europe calls for stronger social and environmental safeguards in EU budget

20 Oct 2025
Topic — EU budget framework and performance indicators for 2028-2034 multiannual financial period.
Message — The organization requests maintaining thematic enabling conditions from the current framework, explicit tracking of climate and social cohesion goals in performance indicators, and concrete gender equality targets rather than just mainstreaming commitments. They want consultation with civil society on implementing the Do No Significant Harm principle.123
Why — This would preserve their role in overseeing EU funds and ensure accountability mechanisms they previously relied upon.45
Impact — Persons with disabilities and women lose specific protections as their safeguards become generic references.67
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Meeting with Abir Al-Sahlani (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Oct 2025 · Civic space in the EU

Meeting with Olga Panagopoulou (Cabinet of Commissioner Piotr Serafin)

6 Oct 2025 · Discussing the follow up of the requests sent to the Commission by the EP/CONT scrutiny working group

Civil Society Europe calls for non-profit inclusion in EU single market

30 Sept 2025
Topic — EU corporate legal framework to help innovative companies operate across borders.
Message — The organization requests EU-level recognition for non-profits and approval of the European Cross-Border Associations Directive. They argue non-profits face legal uncertainty, complex registration requirements, and barriers to cross-border operations that for-profit companies don't encounter.123
Why — This would eliminate repeated registration procedures and reduce administrative burdens across member states.45
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Meeting with Alex Agius Saliba (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union

19 Sept 2025 · Transparency of Third Country Representation Directive

Meeting with Alex Agius Saliba (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union

8 Sept 2025 · Transparency of Third Country Representation Directive

Civil Society Europe Urges Binding Strategy to Protect Civic Space

4 Sept 2025
Topic — The Commission is developing a strategy to strengthen engagement and protect the EU’s civic space.
Message — They demand a binding interinstitutional agreement to guarantee structured civil dialogue across the policy cycle. The group also calls for systematic civic-space impact assessments for all new legislative proposals.12
Why — A formal strategy would provide these organizations with greater financial stability and institutional influence.3
Impact — Governments restricting civic freedoms would face more frequent legal actions and faster monitoring responses.4
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Meeting with Carla Tavares (Member of the European Parliament) and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability European Secretariat

3 Sept 2025 · Exchange about the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Jul 2025 · Exchange of Views

Meeting with Christel Schaldemose (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Jul 2025 · EUDS

Meeting with Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Jun 2025 · transparency of interest representation of third countries & impact on civil society

Meeting with Tomas Tobé (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

6 Jun 2025 · European Democracy Shield

Meeting with Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Jun 2025 · Meeting with Civil Society Europe

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Jun 2025 · Event

Response to European Democracy Shield

23 May 2025

The rise of authoritarianism in the world and the rapidly shifting geopolitical alliances are making Europe realise that, while international cooperation is more necessary than ever, it cannot rely anymore on outsourcing any key factors of its security. While much discussion has happened around conventional defence, the concept of security is much broader, as the Niinisto Report shows. A human-centred approach to security must protect and respect peoples well-being, as well as individual and collective freedoms, in line with fundamental rights, and crucially must include the protection of critical democratic infrastructure as a key priority against any authoritarian vertical power captures or gradual erosions of democratic structures, checks and balances. Also in this area, disinformation, societal polarisation, growing distrust towards the institutions, and a civil society funding crisis in several countries due to the retreat of some private philanthropic actors and USAID show that the EU has underinvested in securing its democratic infrastructure, of which a vibrant, pluralistic civil society is an essential component. In fact, even in heavily polarised societies, civil society provides services that enhance societal cohesion, acts as watchdogs against institutional abuses and violations of fundamental rights, and provides avenues to make the voices of underrepresented groups be heard, acting as a bridge between citizens and institutions. It is no coincidence that authoritarian parties, once in government, have civil society organisations as one of their first targets, starting from those that defend fundamental rights, by attacking their funding sources and labelling them as foreign agents. Protection of civil society, promotion of a robust, predictable funding environment for CSOs, and safeguards to empower them to fulfil their mission as the voice of citizens concerns. We believe that the Democracy Shield must be an opportunity for the EU to secure, safeguard and promote its critical democratic infrastructure, including its rule of law institutions, fundamental rights and civil society, at the national and EU levels; strengthen citizens societal and democratic resilience and empowerment; ensure consistency between the EUs external commitment to democracy, rule of law and promotion of civic space and its policies to protect and promote them within the Union. The Democracy Shield should also include legislative proposals where necessary, and build synergies with the upcoming European Strategy for civil society. The Democracy Shield, in its design and in the implementation of its proposals, must also be a benchmark of the democratic procedures it wants to protect. That is why we urge the Commission to ensure the representation of stakeholders acting for the common interest, CSOs and grassroots movements, workers and trade unions, volunteers, wider civil society including educational institutions, the academic and education community (scholars, scientists, artists) and organisations and collectives representing the interests of people systematically excluded from democratic life, to shape the policies of the Democracy Shield. Civil Dialogue, as recognised by art. 11 TEU, is not only a key feature of EU democratic framework that must be upheld, but is also crucial to ensure that the designed policies are effective in its concrete implementation on the ground: it is a matter of democratic procedural fairness and policy efficiency. Find attached the complete statement outlining our vision for the European Democracy Shield.
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Meeting with Svenja Hahn (Member of the European Parliament)

21 May 2025 · Directive on transparency of interest representation of third countries

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament) and Heinrich Böll Stiftung e.V.

12 May 2025 · Exchange of view

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

7 May 2025 · Defence of Democracy

Meeting with Sophie Wilmès (Member of the European Parliament)

5 May 2025 · Civil society

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament) and WWF European Policy Programme and CONCORD Europe

29 Apr 2025 · Steering Group Fundamental Rights

Meeting with Katarina Barley (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Apr 2025 · Civic dialogue, Civil Society Strategy, Civil Society Platform, Directive on Third Country Interest Representation

Meeting with Sirpa Pietikäinen (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Apr 2025 · Civil society

Meeting with Abir Al-Sahlani (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Apr 2025 · Civilsamhällets prioriteringar

Meeting with Alex Agius Saliba (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

1 Apr 2025 · Transparency for Third Country Interest Representation

Meeting with Heléne Fritzon (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Mar 2025 · Civilsamhället

Meeting with Olga Panagopoulou (Cabinet of Commissioner Piotr Serafin) and European Environmental Bureau and

4 Mar 2025 · Presentation of the views of Civil Society Europe on the issue of funding of NGOs, following the concerns raised in the EP CONT Committee in the context of the annual discharge procedure.

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament) and European Environmental Bureau and

18 Feb 2025 · NGO funding & transparency

Meeting with Svenja Hahn (Member of the European Parliament) and BUSINESSEUROPE and

29 Jan 2025 · Renew Europe Stakeholder Roundtable: “Elevator Pitch for Better Single Market Rules”

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament) and Free Russia Foundation

18 Dec 2024 · Exchange of views

Meeting with Terry Reintke (Member of the European Parliament) and European Environmental Bureau and

21 Nov 2024 · New European Commission

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Nov 2024 · Speaker

Meeting with Ana Catarina Mendes (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited and

18 Nov 2024 · Exchange of views on the Rule of Law Report 2024

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Nov 2024 · Exchange of views

Meeting with Saskia Bricmont (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Oct 2024 · Civil society - social policies

Meeting with Marc Angel (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Oct 2024 · SOCIAL INCLUSION

Meeting with Brando Benifei (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Oct 2024 · Introductory meeting

Meeting with Brando Benifei (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Oct 2024 · Vision and proposals for a stronger space for civil society actors

Meeting with Evin Incir (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Oct 2024 · Civil Society Organisations

Meeting with Anthony Smith (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2024 · Positions de CSE sur les dossiers liés à la commission AFCO

Meeting with Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Sept 2024 · Introduction meeting

Meeting with Leoluca Orlando (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Sept 2024 · Meeting con Civil Society Europe

Meeting with Ana Catarina Mendes (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Sept 2024 · Presentation of Priorities for the new term

Meeting with Chloé Ridel (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Sept 2024 · Role and contribution of EU civil society

Meeting with Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Member of the European Parliament) and European Movement International

12 Sept 2024 · Introductory meeting

Meeting with Lena Schilling (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Sept 2024 · Civil Society

Meeting with Bruno Tobback (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Jul 2024 · The need for a just transition and challenges for the upcoming mandate

Meeting with Katarina Barley (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Jul 2024 · Dialogue with Civil Society

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Jul 2024 · Civil Society Policy in the EU

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union and Forum Civique Européen

16 Apr 2024 · Defence of Democracy Package

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and

8 Apr 2024 · Tech and Russian independent media

Meeting with Daniel Buda (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion)

4 Apr 2024 · Transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries

Response to Proposal for a Directive on cross-border activities of associations

4 Mar 2024

AIM, CSE, PHILEA, SEE, SSE and CEDAG welcome the proposed Directive for the establishment of a European Cross-Border Association and consider as it can pave the way for future similar legal initiatives for other non-profit organisations such as foundations and mutual benefit societies. ECBA can help unlocking the potential of and can support the essential contributions of civil society organisations to our democratic societies across Europe. It can be an important tool to support and mobilise transnationally citizens' collective engagement notably through all non-profit organisations, including foundations and mutuals, and in particular non-profit associations in the public and general interest in a variety of societal areas; and to support the transnational operations of CSOs, through non-profit associations and a model for future similar legislation for foundations or mutual benefit societies, including in border regions. We welcome the pragmatic and anticipatory approach taken by the European Commission and that the proposal for a Directive formally recognises non-profit associations for the very first time at EU level and acknowledges the fundamental feature of their non-profit purpose (asset lock), recognising that in non-profit associations and organisations, profits must be reinvested in line with their objectives as a means for reinforcing the aim of public benefit and cannot be redistributed for private interests or to managers or shareholders. We welcome the logic of mutual recognition used, as well as the equal and non -discriminatory treatment in the recognition and funding of ECBAs compared to already registered non-profit associations in EU Member States (EU MS).We welcome the proposed intention of the Directive to not be overly prescriptive, to be flexible enough to adapt to the different national situations and the diversity of non-profit organisations. The only once principle as set out in Article 12 is essential as simple and non-burdensome administrative procedures are key to ensure the smooth implementation of the Directive at the national level. We agree with the approach set out in Articles 6, 12 and 13 of the proposal for the Directive that there should be no restriction on the ECBAs right to receive and provide funding, except where a restriction is prescribed by law, justified by an overriding reason in the public interest and proportionate for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued without going beyond what is necessary.This EU-level legislative initiative on an ECBA is formulated in a way to respect and maintain the diversity of existing legal frameworks for associations, public-benefit foundations and mutuals at national level, as long as they are in compliance with the EU-level fundamental rights and civic freedoms, and open for a system of mutual recognition of a new legal form. However we would also like to highlight aspects to be clarified or amended. It is important to ensure that there are no inconsistencies as tax-related issues are clearly out of the scope of the EC proposal for a Directive on an ECBA. The non discriminatory principle should not be used to by-pass requirements for similar non-profit associations at the national level in order to access public funding notably in the field of social services activities and of services of general (economic) interest. Beyond the requirements for the founding members, the membership criteria of an ECBA shall be regulated only by its statutes and it has to be ensured that non-EU based people or non-profit organisations (and other non-profit legal entities) can hold leadership positions. More flexibility should be done in terms of voting rights in the democratic decision-making bodies, to accommodate the diversity of the organisations that could register as an ECBA. Prohibitions to national restrictions to the operation of ECBAs should be strengthened by adding a criterion of necessity and judicial review for dissolution.
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Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová)

19 Feb 2024 · Meeting with Prague Civil Society Center about free media hub EAST

Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová)

12 Dec 2023 · Media Freedom EAST hub

Meeting with Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and Forum Civique Européen

22 Nov 2023 · Defence of Democracy

Meeting with René Repasi (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Oct 2023 · "Ökotárs Conference: ""Reclaim Our Civil Space""/ Panel What can civil society expect from the European elections?"

Meeting with Ilana Cicurel (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Coordination SUD

11 Oct 2023 · Transparency and Accountability of NGOs - Meeting with the Technical Advisor of Coordination SUD and the Director of Civil Society Europe

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 Oct 2023 · Transparency of NGO funding

Meeting with Raphaël Glucksmann (Member of the European Parliament) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union and European Partnership for Democracy

20 Sept 2023 · Ingérences étrangères, défense de la démocratie

Response to Ex-post evaluation REC and EfC programmes (2014-2020) and interim evaluation CERV programme (2021-2027)

19 Sept 2023

The CERV programme combines values, civil dialogue and citizenship while also promoting gender equality and the fight against discrimination and violence. The programme is essential to address a context of shrinking civic space and challenges to the rule of law across Europe, while also including gender equality and the impact on discriminated groups. It also contributes to addressing gaps in funding at national level in all these areas. Its regranting mechanism is also key to reach out to grass root organisations at national level and contribute to an enabling civic space and reinforcing democracy. We firmly believe in the need not only to continue the programme, but also to further reinforce it, notably through improving the implementation of some of its provisions, learning from good practice, ensuring better spill over between the different strands of the programme, and developing further links with other programmes. The scope of the programme is far reaching and addresses key challenges in the areas of equality, participation as well as EU rights and values. The recent European Parliament report on shrinking civic space in Europe, the 2022 EC annual report on fundamental rights focusing on civic space, as well as the Council Conclusions have shown that there is a need to further enhance this dimension notably in the strand on citizens engagement. Beyond citizens participation we would suggest to specifically refer to civil dialogue to support a two-way process between institutions at all levels and civil society organisations, and as part of the implementation of article 11. Innovative actions to support dialogue with civil society should be supported. Capacity building actions to support participation in this dialogue, including civil society watchdog role as regards the rule of law and unions values are also important notably through links with other funding schemes provided through shared management such as the technical assistance instrument. In this context we would suggest renaming the strand on citizens participation referring both to citizens and civil society. Another important element is the promotion of citizenship education which should be wider than just addressing disinformation. CERV could also support the establishment of an ad hoc mechanism for the protection of human rights defenders on the model of what exists for human rights defenders outside the EU or the protection of journalists. A key element of the programme is the Civil Dialogue Group which should be launched through the setting up of a task force with civil society organizations that would define a work programme with topics for discussion. It should benefit from lessons learnt from the Europe for Citizens programme civil dialogue. We call for a specific assessment of the provision on regranting. Its effectiveness to reach out to grassroot groups should be assessed and compared also as regards to other funding mechanisms.The involvement of non-EU civil society organisations representatives participation in CERV activities should be assessed with priority for candidate or associated countries independently of their government participating in the programme given the decision of the European Commission to extend the rule of law process to candidate countries.Excessive administrative burden and red tape is an issue with EU funding and CERV does not escape this situation. The application and reporting process should be simplified, to make EU funds under CERV more accessible.
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Meeting with Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union and

28 Jul 2023 · Defence of Democracy

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and

6 Jul 2023 · Defence of Democracy

Meeting with Ilana Cicurel (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 Jun 2023 · Implementation of the CERV programme - Meeting with of the Coordinator of Civil Society Europe

Meeting with Werner Stengg (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union

26 May 2023 · EU Foreign Interference Directive

Meeting with Didier Reynders (Commissioner) and

24 Apr 2023 · Defence of democracy

Response to Recommendation on covert interference from third countries

14 Apr 2023

Address equality, inclusiveness, representativity and transparency of elections. This includes the right to vote for all people living in the EU, including persons with disabilities, prisoners, refugees, asylum seekers, etc. Historically marginalised groups are disproportionately impacted by lack of access/representation and this diminishes access to their right to vote. The accessibility of elections and political campaigns and debates for all marginalised groups, transparency of political party and campaign finance, as well as issuing guidelines for elections in emergency contexts such as pandemics. Develop election observation missions in the EU and support civil society organisations to carry their work within the observation missions, as well as further review of elections and online campaigns towards elections. Require social media platforms to open data for researchers, journalists and NGOs and to ensure content moderation to address disinformation and hate speech towards civil society and activists Ensure that social media platforms do not create obstacles to legitimate, civil-society led campaigning online across the EU on political topics, including before and during elections. Support fact-checking civil society organisations with funding opportunities and official partnerships for elections and beyond but also ensure that there is an enabling legislative framework for those activities.
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Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union and

17 Mar 2023 · Defence of democracy package

Meeting with Pedro Silva Pereira (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Feb 2023 · Citizens Participation and European Democracy

Meeting with Ingrid Godkin (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica), Toma Šutić (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica) and Forum Civique Européen

7 Dec 2022 · Meeting on Defence of democracy package

Response to Draft Commission Delegated Regulation on the provision of EU-wide multimodal travel information services

5 Dec 2022

Civil Society Europe has been encouraging national NGOs to engage with their governments on the preparation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans, also building on provisions in the Recovery and Facility Regulations and guidance to Member States. As NGOs have played a proactive role, the involvement of civil society has increased. However, this often came at a later stage when it was difficult to contribute to the shaping of the proposals. Civil dialogue channels developed around the EU Semester and ESIF were in general not used to consult CSOs on the preparation of the plans. Practices & principles deriving from the European Code of Conduct on Partnership, such as early involvement, timely sharing of information, representativeness and transparency, were not reflected in consultations. Often, we have seen a tick box exercise instead of meaningful consultations, with little information shared before the meetings or requests to provide inputs or comments on prepared drafts and with little time at their disposal to provide input. Not all CSO sectors were involved or were involved to the same extent. We also regret that despite the fact that civil society organisations were strongly engaged in the delivery of services during the pandemic crisis, they have not been identified among the target beneficiaries of the funds. CSE has issued a study at the end of 2021. Among the 11 NRRPs analysed, most have a section on consultations, except for one. Very few give account of how stakeholders contributions, including those from CSOs, were used in the development of the plans. Also, these accounts do not always match the reality on the ground. In some countries, CSOs were mainly consulted through existing consultative bodies. On a more positive note, CSO respondents from some countries saw their proposals and input reflected in the plans, even if they were not consulted but sent spontaneous contributions. In others, sectoral consultations were organised by different Ministries. CSOs involvement in the NRRPs implementation is not specified or it is described in a very vague manner, with one exception. A few plans foresee specific measures addressed to CSOs, but implementation mechanisms are not well defined. Only some plans explicitly foresee CSO representatives in Monitoring Committees. This is problematic as it is critical that civil society organisations can play their role and hold governments accountable and contribute to improve the implementation of the plans. Adequate civil societys involvement, along with local authorities, is also crucial for a full ownership of the plans at local level, which in turn is needed to ensure an effective and timely implementation. These are our recommendations: a) Ensure that CSOs and all relevant stakeholders are included in the monitoring in a structured way, including in annual RRF implementation events in Member States; b) Include specific indicators to monitor the involvement of CSOs in the implementation and monitoring of NRRPs in the delegated acts adopted in compliance with article 29.4 of RRF Regulation; c) Ensure that the report on social expenditure considers the impact on gender equality and discriminated and excluded groups d) Monitor that Member States ensure adequate and effective technical assistance to organise capacity-building of CSOs. e) Address the high risk of incurring fraud, and corruption,while monitoring that the control mechanisms and structures to prevent this, do not result in an excessive bureaucratisation of processes leading to excluding SMEs, civil society and social economy; f) Issue guidelines on how Member States should involve CSOs in an effective way in the monitoring of NRRPs; h) Require full transparency on the projects funded j) Organize an annual meeting at EU level gathering all relevant stakeholders, including civil society to review the implementation of the plans. Reinforce the dialogue between EU institutions and CSOs before RR dialogues.
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Meeting with Damian Boeselager (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Sept 2022 · BUDG – Recovery and Resilience Facility

Meeting with Didier Reynders (Commissioner) and

19 Jan 2022 · Rule of Law

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and Amnesty International Limited and

9 Nov 2021 · Rule of Law

Response to Draft Delegated Act defining a methodology for reporting social expenditure

25 Aug 2021

CSE would like to welcome the Commission proposal for establishing a methodology for reporting social spending within the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the opportunity to give feedback on the proposal. We would like to make the following comments: We welcome the focus on gender equality, as well as on children and youth calling for specific reporting in addition to the nine social policy areas. However we would like to suggest that additionally mainstreaming of discriminated and vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, ethnic and minority groups, Roma, LGBTIQ, is also monitored for the different social policy areas and specifically referred to in the Annex to the regulation.. This is conformity with the 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and with the references in the explanatory memorandum and in the introductory whereas of the draft act, such as for instance references to the European Disability Strategy, the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, or the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan. We also plea for a reference to the 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights in the draft act and annex. We would also like to suggest not to evaluate measures in a too compartmentalized way. For instance, the long term care sector is in dire need of modernisation and would benefit from measures under employment and skills and education and childcare such as employment support, vocational recognition and validation of skills, vocational and higher education… We propose to rather build the methodology on the interconnectedness among the different social policy priorities and to reflect this in the draft act. Regarding the monitoring of the Social category: Social policies: 9. Social protection, including social services and integration of vulnerable groups, we think it could be interesting to monitor also if a specific individualized, targeted approach is applied versus a general social service response. With such an indicator, it could be also relevant to monitor the impact/success rate of the intervention and funding allocated to this purpose. We also believe that Member States should be asked to describe the monitoring systems in place and whether they include civil society organisations including representatives of the public targeted by the measures. Also it is important to evaluate how measures have been implemented and to what extent civil society has been involved. Finally we also believe that the methodology should be reviewed after the first reporting with all relevant stakeholders including civil society organisations such as associations and NGOs or foundations, and that a specific provision in this sense should be included in the draft regulation
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Meeting with Hanna Jahns (Cabinet of Commissioner Johannes Hahn)

1 Sept 2020 · VTC - Discussion on Europe's Recovery Plan due to COVID-19

Meeting with Jean-Eric Paquet (Director-General Research and Innovation)

15 Jun 2020 · High-level debate on trust and governance

Meeting with Geneviève Tuts (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders), Joachim Herrmann (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders)

6 May 2020 · Rule of law, democracy and shrinking space for civil society

Meeting with Mattia De' Grassi (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica)

21 Feb 2020 · Conference on the Future of Europe

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

4 May 2018 · discussion on MFF

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)

28 Apr 2017 · establishment of a EU Mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights