Civil Society Europe
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Civil Society Europe
@eucivilsociety.bsky.social
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Civil Society Europe (CSE) is a network of civil society organisations active in civil, economic, cultural, social and environmental rights working to promote civic participation in Europe

ℹ️ civilsocietyeurope.eu
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📢 Deadline extended! There's still time to register for our conference exploring how quality management can be a tool for resilience, participation and organisational learning

Register: bit.ly/4uVehjU
Draft agenda: bit.ly/4dRltaL

#EUCivilSociety #CoQuality
Graphic which says 'Civil Society Co-designing Quality: Building Resilience in a Challenging Environment A European conference on quality, learning, participation and resilience in the third sector Register by September 25' The coquality and Spanish ministry logos are in the bottom right corner
September 17, 2026 at 7:00 AM
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We need to work together for change. This week, we hear from Valeria Emmi at CESVI as part of ‘The Power of Many’ series from our ‘Voices of Millions’ campaign!

Learn more: bit.ly/4svMm7X

#VoicesOfMillions #ThePowerOfMany #EUCivilSociety
Picture in a circle of speaker Valeria Emmi with quotation underneath, which ways "If CESVI were not part of an EU network, its ability to influence policy and amplify its impact would be significantly reduced." CESVI is an independent, Italian not-for-profit organisation supporting people affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters. Our mission is to turn social justice into action by empowering communities —especially women, children and marginalised groups— to achieve autonomy and dignity, while addressing the root causes of crises and strengthening sustainable, locally driven development. But to create lasting change, we need to work together. This is why CESVI is a member of Alliance2015, working alongside like-minded NGOs to heighten our impact. Together, we recognise that strong, inclusive policies must be based on evidence. Alliance2015 plays a pivotal role in shaping EU food security and humanitarian action by providing evidence for advocacy tools like the Global Hunger Index. Through this, we aim to encourage EU decision-makers to create more resilient food systems that can respond effectively to hunger and longer crises. This is reflected in stronger humanitarian aid programmes that include local leadership and a more integrated approach to such challenges. For people affected by crisis and food insecurity, this translates into more effective support systems: better access to nutritious food, greater resilience to shocks, and assistance that reaches those who need it most. To achieve change at national level, CESVI connects EU commitments with practical action through Alliance2015, strengthening cooperation programmes. Without this partnership, CESVI’s ability to influence policy would be significantly reduced, with less access to shared evidence, advocacy platforms, and strategic policy dialogue. For society, this would mean less effective humanitarian and development action overall. Policies would risk becoming more fragmented, less evidence-driven, and less responsive to crises like hunger, climate shocks, and forced displacement.
September 16, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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🎤 The Commission President will soon reflect on Europe in their ‘State of the Union’ address.

Here are some key takeaways from our 2025 ‘Civil Society State of the Union’ report as we get ready for this year’s speech. Read more 👇 and here: bit.ly/4ys20Vm

#CSSOTEU #StateOfTheUnion
The state of the union speech is almost here. From security and defence to social media, AI, and the climate crisis - Europe can’t afford to stand still. Read our top recommendations from our ‘Civil Society State of the Union’ 2025 report We must think of defence as more than just military investment. Healthcare, energy, food safety, water resilience, and inclusive social and educational policies cannot be pushed to the side. The EU has a real opportunity to be a beacon of peace, freedom and democracy in times of global upheaval. This summer, every citizen across our continent felt the real impacts of climate change. As heatwaves tore across Europe, ordinary people were the ones to bear the consequences. The EU long-term budget must prioritise environmental protection through adequate funding, and implement policies that align with our climate targets. Europe must take the lead on the digital transformation. Social media platforms should be regulated to prevent the spread of disinformation and protect the most vulnerable. AI must be regulated properly, specifically on its use in the workplace, to protect workers and ensure this technology is being used to address real societal challenges.
September 15, 2026 at 7:01 AM
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🛡️ The Democracy Shield is an opportunity for the EU to safeguard its democratic foundations. Our new paper provides ways to implement the different initiatives under the Shield.

Read more: bit.ly/4zKsGSW

#EUCivilSociety #DemocracyShield
CSE logo and EU co-funded logo on top right, with 'Let's Protect Democracy' underneath. Towards the bottom it says 'The democracy shield is an opportunity for the EU to safeguard its democratic foundations. Find out how it can be fulfilled properly.' The European Centre for Democratic Resilience must live up to its name. We support the goal of a Centre that is a focal coordination point for different aspects of the Democracy Shield. Interference against democratic institutions must be dealt with by supporting independent institutions, fact-checking, and institutional and civic electoral resilience. We must protect the media and information space. The Commission and Parliament have underlined the importance of implementing the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as the AI Act. We support the thorough application of these acts. There must be no attempt to water down these digital protections. Democracy must be supported by a vibrant civil society and sufficient funding. The shield overlooks civil society’s role in boosting resilience: from civil protection to tackling climate change, civil society responds to a wide range of societal challenges. Democracy must also be supported through sufficient funding in the EU’s long-term budget. A strong AgoraEU programme is needed to uphold the shield’s goals.
September 14, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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🎥 Are you a skilled videographer? Then we want to hear from you!

Learn more here: bit.ly/4xKaqaM and apply by September 22nd.

#EUCivilSociety #Videographer #VoicesOfMillions
Image of camera with CSE and voices of millions logo on top left and right. Text underneath that says 'Civil society europe is seeking a videographer - We’re seeking an external videographer to support the production of a series of videos for our Voices of Millions campaign! Candidates should have in-depth experience with video production, ideally for the NGO sector and be willing to commit to the production of 3 - 5 videos of maxmimum 3 minutes each. Find out more at the link in caption and apply by 22 September at 23:59'
September 8, 2026 at 7:30 AM
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There's still time for your organisation to participate in the Civil Society State of the Union 2027!

Register for participation here by September 13th: tinyurl.com/bdhyme7t

#EUCivilSociety #CSSOTEU #StateOfTheUnion
Purple background with phones hanging in front with text in front that says 'Call for participation: civil society state of the union 2027 - does your organisation want to contribute? Register through the link in caption!'
September 4, 2026 at 7:00 AM
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🐾 Improving the lives of millions of animals should be a priority. Today, ‘The Power of Many’ brings a story from David Garrahy, External Affairs Manager at World Animal Protection.

Learn more here: bit.ly/4tqscgh

#VoicesOfMillions #ThePowerOfMany #EUCivilSociety
Picture of speaker from World Animal Protection with Voices of Millions logo on top right. Quote says 'Without a network, our ability to carry out campaigns to improve the lives of animals would be fragmented and made much more difficult.' World Animal Protection is a global organisation that wants to mobilise the world for animal wellbeing. We are dedicated to ending cruel factory farming and stopping the commercial exploitation of wild animals. We do not operate alone, but are part of the wider EU network Eurogroup for Animals. We decided to join this network because working together with allies amplifies impact and can produce real change for billions of animals. We have already seen steps towards the legal protection of animals that have been pushed by organisations like ours, facilitated by belonging to an EU network. For instance, working together with nearly 100 partners across Europe, we pushed a campaign forward to support the European Citizens’ Initiative “End the Cage Age”. In reply to the initiative, the European Commission set out plans for a legislative proposal to end the use of cages in farming. This is a huge move forward for animal welfare, something that will make the treatment of animals more humane in the coming years. The existence of EU networks clearly helps us carry out our mission at national levels. Our offices in Thailand, Brazil and China often engage with these networks for inspiration and guidance regarding upcoming developments in animal welfare. In a scenario in which EU networks did not exist, our work would be much more difficult. Our ability to carry out campaigns to improve the lives of animals would be fragmented and society would be clearly negatively affected.
September 2, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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How can civil society strengthen resilience, learning & accountability beyond compliance? Join the CoQuality conference exploring quality management for Europe’s third sector.

📅 14 October 2026
📍 KBR Brussels
⏰ Register by 14 September 2026: bit.ly/4uVehjU

#EUCivilSociety #CoQuality
September 1, 2026 at 7:00 AM
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Our latest newsletter is out! Read now: bit.ly/4hXZkKe

#EUCivilSociety #Newsletter
Image of newspaper and laptop with a letter graphic in front. CSE logo is towards the top and underneath, it says 'Latest newsletter - News, updates, events and all things civil society in Europe.'
August 31, 2026 at 7:36 AM
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⏲️ There's only 1 week left to apply to be our Events & Administration Officer!

👉 Deadline for applications is 31 August at 23:59. Read more and apply now: bit.ly/4pM6u65

#EUCivilSociety #Hiring
Purple background with CSE logo in top left. 'We're hiring' is just underneath in white text, with a description of the Events and Administration Officer job underneath.
August 24, 2026 at 6:57 AM
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⏰ Apply now to join CSE’s team as Communications Assistant (internship)!

Read more here and apply by Sunday 9th August: bit.ly/4wkndA2

#EUCivilSociety #Hiring
Civil Society Europe's logo on top left corner. Text saying "We're hiring. Communications Assistant (Internship). Do you wish to contribute to strengthening the role of civil society in the EU? Are you eager to learn and again experience in communications in an EU non-governmental environment? Location: CSE office in Brussels, home-working 2 days a week. Contract type: Contrat d'Immersion Professionnelle (CIP). Duration: 6 months. Find out more at the link in capation and apply by 9 August 2026 at 23:59".
August 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Civil Society Europe
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💫 A new buzzword is about to crowd your feeds: the Stakeholder Platform of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience - one of the key components of the #EuropeanDemocracyShield. 🧵
There's a new Stakeholder Platform in the making How should it be shaped? And how can civil society contribute?
July 29, 2026 at 10:07 AM
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📢 We’re hiring for 2 open positions - find out more below and apply now!

Events & Admin Officer (Part-time): bit.ly/4pM6u65
Communications Assistant (Internship): bit.ly/4wkndA2

#EUCivilSociety #Hiring
July 30, 2026 at 9:36 AM
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🧑‍🏫Yesterday, we held a workshop for communications professionals on how to craft engaging narratives for civil society. Thank you to Seden Anlar for her expertise, and to all the participants who made the session so engaging!

#EUCivilSociety
July 28, 2026 at 8:41 AM
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🫂 Welcome FEANTSA!

We are very pleased to announce that the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) has joined our network!

Visit FEANTSA’s website to learn about their mission: www.feantsa.org

#EUCivilSociety
Announcement welcoming FEANTSA into the Civil Society Europe network, showing both organizations' logos in top left corner. Black and white photo of hands joining in top right corner. Text that says "Welcome FEANTSA. Civil Society Europe is pleased to welcomed the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) to our network"!
July 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM
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🎉 We’re hiring a communications assistant (internship) - find out more below and apply now!

Apply by 9 August 2026 at 23:59: bit.ly/4wkndA2

#EUCivilSociety #Hiring
Image of magnifying glass with text overlayed explaining the job position. CSE's logo is in the top left corner.
July 23, 2026 at 7:30 AM
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⚖️ Only advocacy that remains close to people can be fair and sustainable. Today, we hear from Jan Bazyl, director of Grupa Zagranica, as part of ‘The Power of Many’ series.

Learn more about CSE’s ‘Voices of Millions’ campaign here: bit.ly/4tqscgh

#VoicesOfMillions #ThePowerOfMany #EUCivilSociety
Colourful speech bubbles in the background. "The Power of Many" encircled in top left corner. In the centre, picture of Jan Bazyl, Director of Grupa Zagranica in Poland. Quote saying "Advocacy isn't just an extra activity, it is fundamental to ensuring that the policies shaping our world are both fair and sustainable". Voices of Millions logo in bottom left corner, and logo of "Co-funded by the European Union" in bottom right corner. Read Jan's story: Grupa Zagranica gathers 62 Polish civil society organisations working in humanitarian aid, international cooperation and global education. Our mission is to boost public knowledge about global challenges and monitor Polish international cooperation. We act as a representative voice for the sector, making sure that aid is about actual impact. We act by listening. Our secretariat is like a “helpdesk” for members that connects them with partners. Since our members work on the front lines, their priorities become our priorities and shape our advocacy. We gather their expertise and channel it to decision-makers in Warsaw and Brussels. It is a way to ensure that policies reflect real needs. With time, this has led to tangible changes. Grupa Zagranica helped shape Poland’s 2011 Development Cooperation Act, the first legal framework for Polish aid, ensuring that resources are used effectively on the ground. We also influenced national school curricula, so that young people grow up with a better understanding of issues such as climate change or migration. Through the recent EU Presidency Project, we’ve supported small local organisations to bring topics like climate justice and decolonial education to their communities. This way, we have managed to spark broader public conversations. Since most Polish organisations are small, being part of an EU network like CONCORD really matters. It gives us “insider” knowledge of how the EU works, as well as legitimacy in front of national authorities. We are seen as part of a wider European force. If these networks disappeared, policies would be driven only by political and economic interests, far from people’s realities. The human side of cooperation would fade, and with it, fairness and sustainability.
July 22, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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As part of ‘The Power of Many’ series, we hear from Yulia Ralko of the Belarusian National Youth Council (RADA), member of the European Youth Forum.

Learn more here: bit.ly/4tqscgh

#VoicesOfMillions #ThePowerOfMany #EUCivilSociety
Logo of "Co-funded by the European Union" on top left corner. White background with colourful speech bubbles, including the text "The Power of Many". Quotation that says "It's important that the needs of Belarusian youth are taken into account in EU policy, because these decisions directly affect them", by Yulia Ralko, International Secretariat of the Belarusian National Youth Council. Logo of "Voices of Million" in bottom right corner Read Yulia’s story: The Belarus National Youth Council (RADA) is a voluntary union of 44 youth organisations, created to consolidate, represent, promote and defend the rights of youth organisations and young people in Belarus. Unfortunately, because of repression in the country, RADA has been operating underground since 2006. What is our goal? To provide information on youth issues and rights at local and international levels, strengthen cooperation between youth civil society and the EU, and increase the capacity of youth organisations through educational programs. Even though Belarus isn’t a member of the EU, it’s important for us that Belarusian youth are heard because EU decisions directly affect them. Almost 11,000 Belarusians study in Polish universities and after mass protests in 2020, many young Belarusians were forced to migrate. Last December, the Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe appointed a Youth Delegate from the Belarusian democratic movement to the 2026 Congress. This was historic for Belarus. We never had a Youth Delegate before, particularly at a time when democracy is under pressure. Since many Belarusian young people are forced into exile in Europe, they greatly depend on EU programmes and opportunities, which should remain accessible. This helps promote EU values by offering them a safer, democratic environment to live. If we could not be a part of an EU network, our society could fall further to Russian propaganda with no clear ways to escape it. We also wouldn’t be able to communicate the needs and ideas of young people in Belarus and give them a voice beyond our borders.
July 8, 2026 at 8:00 AM
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Apply to become a member of the Civil Society Platform by 3 August 2026! Find all the information about the Platform, its eligibility criteria and the application process in the call for expression of interest (bit.ly/4eOHSWI) and the Platform’s Term of Reference (bit.ly/4f5xVmt).

#EUCivilSociety
Civil Society Europe logo on top left corner. Blue bubbles in the centre with the text "apply now to the Civil Society Platform". Text in the bottom left corner that says "The European Commission's framework for structured engagement with Civil Society Organisations". Circle in the bottom right corner with the text "deadline 3 August 2026"
July 7, 2026 at 10:34 AM
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How can civil society strengthen resilience, learning & accountability beyond compliance? Join the CoQuality conference exploring quality management for Europe’s third sector.

📅 14 October 2026
📍 KBR Brussels
⏰ Register by 17 July 2026: bit.ly/4uVehjU
Colourful background with white banner in the center. Text that says "Civil society co-designing quality: building resilience in a challenging environment. A European conference on quality, learning, participation and resilience in the third sector. On 14 October 2026 from 9:30 to 16:30, at the Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels. Register by July 17". CoQuality logo and Spanish Ministry logo on bottom right corner.
July 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM
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📬Our June 2026 newsletter is out! Find it here: tinyurl.com/5cuffcjt

#EUCivilSociety #Newsletter
Background of folded newspapers. Open envelope in the middle with Civil Society Europe's logo and a note that says "Latest newsletter. News, updates, events and all things civil society in Europe"
June 30, 2026 at 1:00 PM
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☎️ Call for participants in Civil Society State of the Union 2027! Register to participate as a sub-working group member or co-chair, and help gather ideas and demands to improve conditions for civil society in the EU.

Register here: tinyurl.com/bdhyme7t

#EUCivilSociety
Purple background. Old blue telephone on the left side of the visual, with the text "call for participation" around it. On the right side of the visual, text that says "Civil Society State of the Union 2027. Does your organisation want to contribute? Register through the link in caption!". Civil Society Europe logo on bottom right corner
June 30, 2026 at 8:02 AM
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🗣️ Stronger civil society, media and culture means a stronger Europe. Check our infographic to discover stable funding mechanisms for civil society.

Stay updated on ‘Voices of Millions’ on our website: bit.ly/3RjPEyk
#EUCivilSociety #VoicesOfMillions
Infographic with the following information: A stronger civil society, media and culture means a stronger Europe. Meaningful impact requires more than uncertain funding. What mechanisms can ensure stable funding for civil society, media and culture in the next EU long-term budget? The AgoraEU programme amounts to 8.6 billion euros for culture, media and civil society. The European Parliament's proposal for a 25% increase amounts to 11 billion euros. How to achieve stable funding? Strengthen AgoraEU through revenue from fines under Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, and AI Act. Allocate 85% of funds to civil society under CERV+, the key funding resource for civil society. Ensure sustainable and long-term funding: CERV+ should continue to provide operating grants. The message is clear: it's time to invest in civil society. Logos of "Voices of Millions" and "Co-funded by the European Union" on bottom right corner,
June 26, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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Are you a consultant with experience of EU affairs and EU civil society, with excellent research and writing skills? Then we're looking for you!

More info can be found here: lnkd.in/egUTJunZ

#EUCivilSociety
CSE logo in top left corner. Heading that says 'Open call: booklet on history of civil society at EU level'. Description of what is needed is underneath.
June 25, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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On 23 June, we cooperated in the organisation of the Civil Dialogue Forum hosted by the European Parliament and European Commission, to promote structured civil dialogue and exchange practices.

Read more: tinyurl.com/2nczk8dt

Photos: © European Union 2026 - Source : EP
#EUCivilSociety
June 24, 2026 at 1:08 PM