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EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy

EUROPEUM

EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent think-tank focussing on European integration and cohesion.

Lobbying Activity

Response to EU Civil Society Strategy

5 Sept 2025

Civil society organisations in Central Europe are indispensable for safeguarding democracy, defending rights, and connecting citizens with decision-makers beyond elections. They act as watchdogs in environments where populist narratives, disinformation, and low trust in institutions increasingly undermine democratic resilience. EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, based in Prague and Brussels, plays this role by engaging Czech and Central European citizens in EU debates, linking regional perspectives to Brussels through networks such as Think Visegrad. Across Central Europe, civic space has become more fragile in recent years. Political discourse has grown increasingly polarised, with NGOs often framed as detached elites or subject to mistrust, particularly in sensitive areas such as migration or rule of law. While open hostilitysuch as labelling organisations as foreign agentsis less entrenched than in other parts of Europe, the risk is rising in parallel with growing populist and far-right rhetoric. The financial environment is also tightening: NGOs across the region face fragile funding ecosystems, with Czech organisations in particular affected by a sharp reduction in US-linked funding from 2025 onwards. Domestic philanthropy remains underdeveloped and uneven, leaving many organisations vulnerable at a moment when elections and democratic institutions are under political strain. EUROPEUM has worked extensively on disinformation, migration, and the Green Deal. Projects such as Dezinfo Czech and RevivEU have shown how migrants are scapegoated in disinformation campaigns, while climate and transition policies are misrepresented to fuel polarisation. These initiatives not only exposed harmful narratives but also engaged citizens in open, evidence-based dialogue. By combining policy expertise with public outreach, EUROPEUM and its partners help build resilience against manipulation and reinforce public trust in European integration. The EU should therefore establish a binding European Civil Dialogue Framework under Article 11 TEU, obliging Member States to consult CSOs in shaping EU positions. A European Civil Society Platform would allow for systematic, structured engagement, ensuring that perspectives from Central Europe are included in EU decision-making. Protection of CSOs in the region is increasingly necessary. While physical threats are less common, reputational attacks, legal harassment, and hostile narratives in politicised media are widespread. Migration- and climate-focused organisations are particularly vulnerable, targeted by disinformation campaigns that polarise societies. The EU should establish an early-warning and monitoring mechanism on civic space, create rapid-response funds for CSOs under attack, and support national solidarity hubs to assist smaller organisations. Funding remains the most urgent barrier. While programmes such as CERV, Horizon, and Erasmus+ are valuable, co-funding requirements are a major obstacle in the Czech and Central European philanthropic landscape. Administrative burdens discourage smaller actors, while short-term project cycles undermine sustainability. The sudden reduction in international funding from 2025 onwards exacerbates these challenges at a critical political juncture. Moreover, large-scale EU funding is still overwhelmingly awarded to Western European organisations, creating regional imbalances that run counter to the programmes stated purpose of strengthening democracy across the Union. The EU must therefore ensure that Central and Eastern European organisations can access funding on an equal footing, including through simplified procedures and fairer geographic distribution. Expanded regranting mechanisms, more flexible cost coverage, and multiannual core support for organisations with proven expertise are essential steps. Civil society participation must be strengthened across policy areas, particularly in rule of law and democracy, where CSOs are
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19 Nov 2020 · Round table on sustainable food systems

Meeting with Lukas Visek (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

12 May 2020 · Green Deal in the Czech Republic

Meeting with Thomas Zerdick (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

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