The Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society has joined a coalition of 59 civil society organizations from across the enlargement region and the EU in supporting a joint submission to the European Commission, calling for the forthcoming EU Civil Society Strategy to formally recognize and empower civil society organizations (CSOs) in enlargement countries as key actors in building a stronger, more democratic European Union.
The submission, coordinated by the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje (IDSCS), outlines a comprehensive set of recommendations to ensure that enlargement CSOs are fully integrated into EU policy frameworks and protected as vital democratic actors. It emphasizes their role as drivers of reform, watchdogs of political commitments, and partners in EU accession processes.
“Today’s civil society organizations in enlargement countries are tomorrow’s European Union’s civil society partners. Their early, continuous, and structured engagement strengthens democratic resilience and contributes to a more legitimate and inclusive policy-making process,” the coalition states in the submission.
Key Recommendations
The coalition’s joint document calls for:
- Recognition of CSOs in enlargement countries as reform drivers, strengthening their role in political, societal, and economic transformations.
- Protection and safeguarding of civic space, including condemnation of restrictive laws, attacks, and delegitimization of CSOs, and extension of EU safeguards to enlargement countries.
- Sustainable, predictable, and transparent funding, including earmarked resources within EU instruments and improved access to funding beyond IPA mechanisms.
- Structured participation of CSOs in policy and accession processes, ensuring meaningful involvement in programming, monitoring, and EU-level consultations.
- Embedding civil society in monitoring mechanisms for the Strategy’s implementation, ensuring accountability and impact tracking
A Collective Call to Action
By endorsing these recommendations, BFPE joins a united call from 59 organizations to ensure that enlargement CSOs are fully recognized in the EU Civil Society Strategy, both as partners in democratic governance and as essential actors in safeguarding fundamental rights.
The full submission, along with the list of endorsing organizations, is available here.
About the Coalition
The joint submission brings together leading organizations from the Western Balkans, Türkiye, and the EU. Alongside BFPE, endorsers include prominent think tanks, human rights organizations, advocacy groups, and civic networks, all committed to strengthening democratic resilience and civic participation in Europe’s enlargement region
This post is also available in SRP.
