Civil Society Europe
November 2025 Newsletter
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Welcome to our November 2025 newsletter! In this edition, read about the EU’s Civil Society Strategy, the status of the European Cross-Border Associations Directive, and much more.
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EU Strategy to Strengthen Civil Society Unveiled
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The EU Civil Society Strategy is here. This proposal comes at a crucial time where civil society faces increasing pressure in the EU and beyond, while the rule of law and democracy are being challenged.
We are pleased to see that with the adoption of the strategy, the Commission takes a long term commitment towards engaging with civil society, developing a favourable environment, and supporting it.
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The strategy recognises the important role that civil society plays in contributing to policymaking, representing diverse groups, enhancing and protecting democracy inside and outside the EU, and helping to keep the rule of law in check. Read our full reaction here. |
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Hearing on European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive Takes Place in European Parliament’s JURI Committee
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We must save the ECBA Directive!
On November 4th, Judit Lantai, Vice-President of Civil Society Europe expressed this need in the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI). In this hearing, MEPs, Commission representatives, and civil society colleagues exchanged on the Directive’s status, which is proposed to be withdrawn from the Commission’s 2026 work programme.
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CSE and ACLEU Launch Report on the Potential of Charity Lotteries
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On November 5th, CSE and the Association of Charity Lotteries in Europe launched our new report, ‘Supporting Civil Society Under Pressure’, in Brussels. The report dives into how charity lotteries can help to reshape the funding landscape for civil society in Europe. Throughout the event, we underscored how indispensable civil society is across many fields, from social and cultural to human rights and environment. Despite this, there is a growing funding gap across the EU. Charity lotteries have the potential to reshape funding for civil society. They provide a safe way to strengthen the resources given to organisations that support our communities. Read more in the full report here. |
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CSE & TI EU Release Q&A Debunking Disinformation on EU Funding to NGOs
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CSE and TI EU recently released our updated Q&A, which debunks disinformation on EU funding to NGOs. In light of the first meeting of the Scrutiny Working Group in the European Parliament last week, this document sets the record straight and shines a light on the political narratives being used to attack civil society and its funding.
Read the full Q&A here.
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European Parliament Approves Position on Foreign Interest Representation: Could It Harm Civil Society?
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On Thursday 27th November, the European Parliament adopted its position on the Directive on Interest Representation Services on Behalf of Third Countries. The text approved is the same as the one in October by the IMCO Committee, as a compromise among the centrist political groups.
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While the text is an improvement, several problems remain. The risk of governments using it to attack civil society still remains large, and the Directive will be ineffective in tackling foreign interference. Read more here. |
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Over 160 CSOs Join CSE’s First Webinar on the EU Long-term Budget
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On the 28th November, CSE, together with different thematic civil society coalitions, organised the webinar “The Multiannual Financial Framework: From Zero to Hero”. The webinar presented the MFF proposal and discussed in parallel sessions on MFF and social investments, green transition, democracy and civil society support and involvement, gender budgeting, education, and external actions. Over 160 EU and national level organisations joined and exchanged enthusiastically on different aspects of the MFF
The webinar is the first of a series that will enhance CSOs’ capacity to engage in the MFF negotiations.
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CSE in Copenhagen at the Event 'Standing Up for Democracy & Rights'
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Civil Society Europe participated to the conference “Standing up for Democracy & Rights” organised by Nyt Europa with the support of several other organisations, including the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.
The Conference, which took place in Copenhagen on 6-7 November 2025, gathered more than a hundred participants from Denmark and across the EU to discuss the state of democracy in Europe.
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CSE organised the open workshop “Nonprofits Beyond Borders: Cross-border Cooperation in Nordic and European Regions” which also presented the European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive.
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CSE and TI EU Receive Teachers From Three EU Countries
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On 18th November, Civil Society Europe and Transparency International EU met with a delegation of teachers and other educational actors from Denmark, Belgium and Ireland, brought by the Democracy in Europe Organization, a Danish NGO working to strengthen civic education about the EU and European democracy.
CSE and TI EU introduced their organisation, their work, and engaged in a dialogue on how to strengthen democracy and transparency at the EU level.
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