Civil Society Europe
Budget
€313,153
EP Access
3
accredited persons
Staff
5
3.5 FTE
EU Grants
€227,206
Mission & Goals
Civil Society Europe (CSE), the coordination of civil society organisations (CSOs) at EU level, is composed of 27 key platforms and networks of CSOs among the most representative CSOs active at EU level in a wide range of areas, such as civic participation, social rights, education, environmental and animal rights, transparency, volunteering, youth, culture, the fight against racism, anti-poverty, and rights of persons with disabilities. Through our members, we reach out to millions of people active in CSOs in the EU. CSE works towards regenerating the EU project around the shared values of equality, solidarity, inclusiveness and democracy. CSE contributes to institutions’ recognition of the essential role and value of independent and plural CSOs in building and nurturing a democratic society based on fundamental rights. We work to create the conditions for a strong civil society voice, an effective, open and structured civil dialogue at EU level, and an enabling civic space in the EU.
EU Legislative Interests
Civil Society Europe (CSE) works towards the promotion and implementation of structured civil dialogue at EU level. In this context, CSE follows: citizenship issues; the implementation and promotion of fundamental rights and the rule of law, in particular as they relate to civic space and the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society in Europe, and including the annual Rule of Law Cycle; issues that are of pertinence to the implementation of Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the recognition and role of civil society organisations (CSOs), for instance the announced European Civil Society Strategy, and in the review or definition of the EU agenda; and legislative proposals or policies such as the European Democracy Action Plan, the Defence of Democracy Package, the Democracy Shield, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), financial rules and EU funding including the discharge procedure, the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Package, the proposal for a European Cross-Border Association Statute, the Transparency Register, the follow-up of the Conference on the Future of Europe (including developments regarding a possible Convention to revise the EU Treaties), the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
Communication Activities
Civil Society Strategy: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Civil-Society-Europe-Contribution_Consultation-on-the-Civil-Society-Strategy.pdf Civic space: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Guidance-Note-Impact-Assessment-Tool-Checklist-on-Civic-Space.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/a-protection-mechanism-for-human-rights-defenders-and-civil-society-organisations-in-europe/ Rule of law: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NPOs-and-single-market-consultation-on-2025-RoL-report-.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/CSE-guidance-note-on-RoL-report-18.12.2023.pdf Civil dialogue: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/EU-Civil-Dialogue-the-foundations-of-an-institutional-framework.pdf Democracy: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/qa-the-proposed-directive-on-third-country-interest-representation/ https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Defence-of-Democracy-Policy-Brief.pdf Follow-up of the CoFoE: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CS-SOTEU-2025-Digital.pdf European Parliament elections in 2024: https://civilsocietyforeu.eu/the-manifesto/ EU Recovery and Resilience Facility: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Paper-Recommendations-Post-2027-MFF.pdf Anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NPOs-and-single-market-consultation-on-single-market-strategy-2025.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2023.10.17-EU-AML-CFT-Package-Comments-on-BO-from-NPO-and-Foundation-sector.pdf European Cross-Border Associations: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ECBA-added-value-security-concerns.docx.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ECBA-introductory-handbook-for-national-non-profit-organisations-1.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Questions-Answers-on-the-ECBA-Directive.pdf EU funding: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CSE-Analysis-of-the-MFF-2028-2034-Progress-for-Some-Setbacks-for-Others.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Common-Civil-Society-position-paper-on-the-outline-of-the-2028-2034-Multiannual-Financial-Framework.docx.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Our-Statement-on-CERV-in-the-Next-EU-Budget.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Common-Civil-Society-Requests-for-Operating-Grants-OGs.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NGO-Funding-Statement-Civil-Society-Europe.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Letter-to-EU-Groups-Presidents-on-the-proposal-of-an-Inquiry-Committee-into-NGOs-funding-1.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/no-scandal-no-misuse-of-funds-but-the-commission-needs-to-invest-in-a-more-understandable-database/ https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/the-eu-must-ensure-the-conditions-for-an-open-public-debate-on-eu-policies/ Transparency https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/CSE-analysis-on-the-transparency-of-the-Perm-Reps-to-the-EU.docx.pdf https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-Patchwork-of-Opacities-CSE-Reports-on-the-Transparency-of-European-Parliament-Committees-in-the-2019-2024-Term.pdf
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
Observer of SDG Watch Europe (https://www.sdgwatcheurope.org/)
Organisation Members
ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy CEV – Centre for European Volunteering Civil Society Forum CONCORD – European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation CAE – Culture Action Europe Eurodiaconia Eurogroup for Animals EAPN – European Anti-Poverty Network EASPD – European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities ECAS – European Citizen Action Service ECF – European Civic Forum ECRE – European Council on Refugees and Exiles EDF – European Disability Forum ENAR – European Network Against Racism EPF – European Patients’ Forum EPHA - European Public Health Alliance EYF – European Youth Forum Green 10 JEF Europe – Young European Federalists LLLP – Lifelong Learning Platform OBESSU – Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions Social Platform SOLIDAR TI EU – Transparency International EU Volonteurope WAVE - Women Against Violence Europe WOSM - World Scouting http://civilsocietyeurope.eu/our-network/
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.