The European Forum for Urban Security (Efus) welcomes the adoption by the European Commission of the new EU Strategy for Civil Society, on 12 November 2025. This strategy represents a major policy tool for strengthening European democracy, protecting fundamental rights and providing sustainable support to civil society organisations (CSOs) at a time when they are playing a crucial role in addressing current democratic challenges.
An essential strategy for democracy and fundamental rights
Efus welcomes the European Commission’s stated commitment to supporting civil society organisations, which are essential to ensure the respect for fundamental rights and proper functioning of democracy. At a time when civic space is under threat in several European countries, this strategy sends a strong political signal: protecting CSOs is essential to preserving open, inclusive and resilient societies.
This strategy is also consistent with the European Democracy Shield, the European initiative aimed at strengthening the resilience of democracies in the face of interference, disinformation and other systemic threats. The link between these two frameworks for action underlines the European Union’s commitment to simultaneously protecting democratic institutions and the civil society actors who ensure their day-to-day functioning.
Ensuring sustainable funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework
Efus highlights the particular importance given in this strategy to the issue of stable, sustainable and transparent funding for civil society organisations. With the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) due to be adopted by the European Union in two years’ time, it is essential to guarantee a budget dedicated to CSOs, whose work is essential to democracy, social cohesion and the protection of fundamental rights. European Commissioner Michael McGrath, responsible for democracy and the rule of law, reiterated that preserving these budgets is a central commitment of the new strategy.
A European strategy that must inspire Member States
Efus also emphasises the structuring nature of this strategy: few European states currently have a national strategy to support civil society.
The new European framework can and must inspire national governments to develop coherent, protective and ambitious policies in favour of civil society organisations, in particular by guaranteeing dedicated funding and institutional recognition of their role.
Towards a structured and collaborative European platform
The creation of a Civil Society Platform is one of the main pillars of the strategy. For the European Commission, this platform is intended to be a structuring tool to:
- strengthen collaboration between European institutions and civil society organisations;
- ensure regular, transparent and inclusive dialogue;
- highlight the role of CSOs, which is too often overlooked despite its fundamental importance.
With this in mind, Efus has decided to join the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP), the main network for cooperation between the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and more than 1,200 civil society organisations. This participation will enable Efus to:
- actively contribute to the implementation of the strategy;
- share its expertise and best practices;
- promote citizen participation and the protection of fundamental rights at all levels of governance.
Efus reaffirms its commitment to supporting the implementation of this European strategy and to defending, alongside local authorities and civil society organisations, a strong, inclusive and sustainable democratic space in Europe.
