24.9.2021

FRA’s report Protecting civic space in the EU sheds light on the challenges civil society faces across the European Union. It is based on desk research and two online consultations with over 400 human rights civil society organisations, carried out in 2020.

The research underscores that the situation varies considerably across Member States. In some parts of the EU, civil society organisations face threats and smear campaigns, funding cuts and disproportionate restrictions on their right to freedom of association, assembly and expression. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened their working conditions. However, the report also highlights positive developments. These include authorities publicly acknowledging the importance of civil society work, fully involving civil society in policy development or reducing bureaucracy for NGO registration.

FRA’s multidisciplinary research network, FRANET, contributed to the report by collecting country level information on legal environment and space of civil society organisations that operate in supporting fundamental rights. The Institute for Human Rights at Åbo Akademi University, together with the Faculty of Law at the University of Turku, currently form the national focal point of FRANET in Finland. The country report on Finland is also available online on the FRA website.