Urgent call to strengthen and shield European democracy in the upcoming MFF

The following letter was submitted by Transparency International EU and the undersigned organisations to European Commission President Ursula von...

Author: Pia Engelbrecht-Bogdanov Type: News Date: 3 April 2025

The following letter was submitted by Transparency International EU and the undersigned organisations to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minster of Poland Donald Tusk, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Access it as a PDF file here.

3 April 2025, Brussels

Subject: Strengthening and shielding European democracy with the upcoming MFF

Eighty years ago, the defeat of Nazi fascism and the end of World War II gave rise to a vision of a united Europe built on peace, democracy, equality, and the rule of law. The foundation of new democratic states committed to social welfare and fundamental rights for all set the stage for decades of unprecedented economic and social developments, and peace. This model, while not perfect, gave hope to those in Europe still under authoritarian regimes and acted as the basis for our common and shared security in the region. All along these decades, civil society has been a driving force behind historical moments of democratic transformation. From the struggles for democracy in Spain, Portugal, and Greece in the 1970s to movements like Solidarnosc in Poland and Charter 77 in Czechoslovakia, civic actors have played a critical role in shaping a shared European future. The lessons of these struggles remain deeply relevant today.

As Europe grapples with complex and interconnected crises — including climate change, widening economic precarity, and eroding trust in democratic institutions — the very fabric of our democracies is at risk. Growing social divisions and declining trust in institutions leave societies vulnerable to forces seeking to weaken democracy. These vulnerabilities create fertile ground for external factors — like Putin’s Russia and the Trump administration — and internal forces seeking to dismantle democratic principles, challenging the very notion that rights are universal. A democracy that does not actively protect and advance equality and the wellbeing of all ceases to be a democracy in the true sense of the word.

In this context, the strength of our democracies vis a vis these challenges depend on a robust civil society. Organised civil society has played a crucial role in responding to crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the displacement of Ukrainians fleeing war and the response to environmental disasters. With few means and little direct power, they are often the first ones to arrive and the last ones to leave where people are in need, and when democracy is under stress. Poland serves as a recent example of how civil society played a critical role in restoring the rule of law and democracy when they were undermined.

Recognising the gravity of these challenges, you have made a firm commitment to “A free and democratic Europe” and to support, empower, and protect civil society. We now ask that this vision be fully reflected in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), including by strengthening the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme financing as one of the crucially needed tools of the European democracy shield, the Civil Society Strategy and the European Equality Strategies.

Four reasons to strengthen the CERV programme to defend democracy:

CERV is a key EU instrument to promote democracy, equality, and fundamental rights for all.

Since 2020, the CERV programme has been a lifeline for civic organisations’ interventions across Europe, particularly through multiannual core funding and outreach to remoted areas via the regranting scheme. It has led to tangible improvements in democratic participation, legal protections for women, LGBTQI+ people, racialised groups, people with disabilities, children, older persons, and survivors of violence. Yet, despite its impact, the CERV budget remains less than 0.2% of the total MFF — providing wholly insufficient means given the scope of issues to be addressed in supporting the foundations of European democracy.

Increasing support to civil society means investing in democratic resilience.

Despite its successes, CERV remains severely underfunded, leaving up to 92% of aligned initiatives without financial support.[1]^[2] A 2023 survey by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights found that 75.4% of CSOs working on fundamental rights and democracy fear that funding shortages threaten their work.^[3] The recent freeze on USAID contributions^[4] and the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule further highlights the urgent need for MFF discussions to decisively address the funding needs for democracy resilience-building and human rights protection.

New challenges require new tools and expanded resources.

Increased investment is crucial for advancing civic and democratic education and critical thinking, fostering right-based narratives and policies, enabling multi-stakeholder collaborations, ensuring broad-based democratic participation and providing essential support to human rights defenders and civil society under attack. Furthermore, as equality in the access to fundamental rights is increasingly attacked, there is a growing need of support for those who act to protect marginalised and excluded groups, and gender equality, as well as to ensure their voices are heard in policy-making. Addressing these challenges requires not only strong policy decisions but also the necessary budgetary commitments for effective support.

Opponents of European democracy and fundamental rights — both within and beyond EU borders — are investing unprecedented resources to attack civil society and democracy.

Authoritarian regimes and radicalised groups are using vast financial and technological means in spreading disinformation, fuelling polarisation, and shaping anti-rights narratives and policies that undermine dignity and fundamental rights — targeting in particular racialised groups, migrants, refugees, women and LGBTI+ people. At the same time, from inside the political sphere, far-right forces but also part of the representatives of mainstream parties are actively delegitimising and attacking funding for democratic CSOs, including the CERV programme itself. By proactively investing in robust support for democratic resilience, the EU can strengthen European democracy and counteract those seeking to undermine it.

Our call to action: make a historic commitment to democracy!

To strengthen democracy and rights for all, we need to put our money where our mouth is. In 2020, the European Parliament and European Council played a key role in championing the CERV by nearly tripling the CERV budget compared to the initial proposal by the European Commission. Now the challenges are broader and greater — and so must be our collective response from the European institutions and civic actors. Allocating 0.5% of the MFF to the CERV – as a stand-alone programme managed by the European Commission – would send a strong signal about the EU’s commitment to defending democracy and would be an invaluable investment in our shared future.

This investment must be accompanied by:

A strong and structural support for civil society and its participation in policymaking in all relevant thematic programmes;
Strategic dialogue among public institutions, philanthropy groups, and civil society on how to meet the needs of civil society actors that defend fundamental rights;
A robust legal and tax framework for financial tools that support the sustainable funding of organised civil society, at the EU and national levels, including matching funds for the CERV grants;
A strong stance against attacks on CSOs and their funding in the EU.

Europe’s democracy is only as strong as its commitment to equality and fundamental rights. If we fail to protect and invest in those fighting for fundamental rights, social justice, and inclusion, in coherence with the European treaty provisions, we risk undermining the very essence of democracy itself. Now is the time to act decisively to ensure that democracy in Europe remains not just a system of governance, but a true reflection of equality and dignity for all.

Yours sincerely,

European and international organisations

European Civic Forum
AGE Platform Europe
All Digital
Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN)
Centre for European Volunteering
Civil Liberties Union for Europe
DYPALL Network
ENAR – European Network Against Racism
End Female Genital Mutilation European Network
EPA – European Parents’ Association
Eurochild
European Association for Local Democracy – ALDA
European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting
EUROPEAN FEDERATION FOR INTERCULTURAL LEARNING
European Public Health Alliance
European Youth Forum
Fédération Européenne des Retraités et personnes Âgées (FERPA)
International Planned Parenthood Federation – European Network (IPPF EN)
Lifelong Learning Platform – European Civil Society for Education
RECLAIM
Res Publica Foundation – Visegrad Insight
SOLIDAR
Transparency International EU
Union of European Federalists
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)

Austria

Bündnis für Gemeinnützigkeit – Civil Society Alliance Austria
Association of Austrian Autonomous Women’s Shelters
ECoD gemeinnützige GmbH / European Capital of Democracy

Belgium

Pour la solidarité
Professional Women International Brussels
Stand Up for Europe

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Centar za promociju civilnog drustva
Center for Civic Cooperation

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation
Bulgarian center for not-for-profit law
European Institute Foundation
Infinite Opportunities Association
Sofia Platform Foundation
Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities

Croatia

Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity
Human Rights House Zagreb
CESI – Center for Education, Counselling and Research
Lota’s Box

Czech Republic

Network for the Protection of Democracy
Glopolis
SPIRALIS
APLA Severní Cechy,z.s.
CeHuPo – Centrum Humanitární Pomoci, z.s.
Czech Women’s Lobby
FoRS – Czech Forum for Development Cooperation
Green Circle
GUG.cz, z.s.
Jezevec z.s.
Karlovarsko pro demokracii
Kouči pro Vás z.s.
Letokruh z.u.
Lumpeco
Open society p.b.a.; Institute H21
Péče bez překážek, z. s.
Platform for social housing
Platforma pro občanská shromáždění
Prague Pride z.s.
Spolek Epigram
Spolu na Sušicku, z.s. (Together in Sušicko, z.s.)
Středisko ekologické výchovy SEVER /Centre For Environmental Education SEVER
Transparency International Czech Republic
TUDYTAM, z.s.
Ukrajinska iniciativa jizni Moravy

Denmark

Acter Global
Crossing Borders
Danish Family Planning Association
Mino Danmark
NOAH, Friends of the Earth Denmark

Estonia

Estonian Human Rights Centre
Network of Estonian Non-Profit Organizations

Finland

SOSTE Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health

France

Le Mouvement associatif
LDH (Ligue des droits de l’Homme)
LIGUE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT
Maison de l’Europe de Paris
Mouvement européen France-Vaucluse
VoxPublic

Germany

Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement
Maecenata Foundation

Greece

European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation “EGTC Amphictyony”
Greek Forum of Refugees
Union of Women Association of Heraklion

Hungary

Ökotars-Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation
“I’d like to teach” Movement (Tanítanék Mozgalom)
Alternative Communities Association
Autonomia Foundation
Civil Kozoktatasi Platform (CKP)
Dialogue for Communities Association
Emberség Erejével Alapítvány – Power of Humanity Foundation
EMMA Association
Energiaklub Climate Policy Institute
European House Budapest
Human Platform Association
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union
Hungarian Helsinki Committee
Hungarian Europe Society
Közélet Iskolája / The School of Public Life
Magyar Női Érdekérvényesítő Szövetség (Hungarian Women’s Lobby)
Motivation Educational Association
NIOK Alapítvány
PILnet
Power of Humanity Foundation (Emberség Erejével Alapítvány)
Szülői Hang
Uccu Roma Informal Education Foundation

Ireland

Comhlámh
Irish Council for Civil Liberties
Redial Partnership CLG
The Wheel

Italy

ARCI
European Movement Italy
Solidarietà e Cooperazione – CIPSI ETS
ANCI Lazio
Associazione ADL Zavidovici
Associazione Luciano Lama ODV
Biosphaera s.c.s.
Europiamo ETS
Federazione trentina della cooperazione

Latvia

Civic Alliance – Latvia
“Sievietēm 50+”
Ar pasaules pieredzi Latvijā
Donum Animus
Eiropas Kustība Latvijā / European Movement – Latvia

Lithuania

Open Lithuania Foundation
Nemunėio Radviliškio bendruomenė
Alytaus krašto asmenų su negalia draugija
Butrimonių bendruomenės centras
Center for Equality Advancement
Gilės sodas NGO
House of Diversity education
Klausos negalios šeimų bendrija Aidas
Lietuvos agentūros “SOS vaikai” Panevėžio skyrius
Lietuvos triračių sporto asociacija
Lithuanian frame Running sport association
Lithuanian Gay League
Lithuanian Young Falcon Union
LPF Atgaivos sala
Mažeikių sutrikusios psichikos žmonių globos bendrija “Gyvenimo spalvos”
Neįgaliųjų sportininkų asociacija
NGO Education, Health and Social Innovation Center (Svietimo, sveikatos ir socialiniu inovaciju centras)
onkologiniu ligoniu asociacija Viltie kelias
Public Institution ‘Eik’ Center
Senjorų pasaulis
Stebėk teises
TAURAGĖ WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT AND INFORMATION CENTER (TMUIC)
Telsiu kriziu centras
Village community “Berteškiai”
Visaginas University of the Third Age
VšĮ ,,Unikalus šokis”
VšĮ Pabėgėlių Taryba
VšĮ Prirašytos rankos (Inscribed Hands)
VšĮ VAIKŲ LINIJA

Netherlands

Hivos
Netherlands Helsinki Committee

Poland

National Federation of Polish NGOs (OFOP)
Stefan Batory Foundation
Polish Robert Schuman Foundation
Atlas Nienawiści
Bridges of Perspectives Cooperative
Central Roma Council
Centrum Rozwoju Inicjatyw Społecznych CRIS
Coalition Living Earth
Equality Factory Association
Federacja Znaki Równości
Forests and Citizens Foundation
Foundation Humanity in Action Poland
Free Courts Foundation
Fundacja “Pro Aperte”
Fundacja Artonomia
Fundacja Czas Kobiet
Fundacja Diabeciaki
Fundacja Dom tam gdzie Ty
Fundacja Inicjatywa Dom Otwarty
Fundacja Interakcja
Fundacja Koper Pomaga Copernicus Group
Fundacja Kultura Liberalna
FUNDACJA MALINOWY GEST
Fundacja Matecznik
Fundacja NieOdkładalni
Fundacja Po Mojemu w Krakowie
Fundacja Równość.org.pl
Fundacja Rozwoju Demolracji Lokalnej im. Jerzego Regulskiego
Fundacja Transgresja
Fundacja W Stronę Dialogu (Foundation Towards Dialogue)
Fundacja Widzialne
Fundacja Wolności
Fundacja Wspomagania Wsi
Green REV Institute
Habitat for Humanity Poland
Homo Faber Association
Information Society Development Foundation
Inicjatywa “Nasz Rzecznik”/ “Our Ombudsman” Initiative
Institute for Sustainable Development Foundation
Institute for Sustainable Development Foundation
Jewish Association Czulent
Kampania Przeciw Homofobii / Campaign Against Homophobia
Klub Inteligencji Katolickiej (Club of Catholic Intelligentsia)
Love Does Not Exclude Association
Marsz Równości Bydgoszcz
Migration Consortium
Mind & Gravity Foundation
My, Rodzice (We The Parents) – stowarzyszenie matek, ojców i sojuszników osób LGBTQIA
Nauka dla Przyrody (Science for Nature)
Neutral Language Council (Pronounce.page)
niebinarnosc.pl
Ocalenie Foundation
Open Republic Association against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia
Panoptykon Foundation
Polish Association of the Deaf – Łódź Division
Polish Donors Forum
Polish Migration Forum Foundation
Polska Akcja Humanitarna
Polski Klub Ekologiczny Okręg Mazowiecki
Queerowy Maj
Queerpol Fondation
SOK Foundation (Fundacja Samodzielność od Kuchni)
Stowarzyszenie Egala
Stowarzyszenie Grupa Stonewall
Stowarzyszenie Inicjatywa Obywatelska Pro Civium
Stowarzyszenie Łódzkie Dziewuchy Dziewuchom
Stowarzyszenie Mudita
Stowarzyszenie na rzecz Dzieci i Dorosłych z Mózgowym Porażeniem Dziecięcym “ŻURAWINKA”
Stowarzyszenie na rzecz imigranckich rodzin osób z niepełnosprawnościami “PATCHWORK”
Stowarzyszenie Tęczowe Opole
Stowarzyszenie Tęczówka / Tęczówka Association
The Association for “Our Ombudsman” Initiative
The KARTA Center Foundation
To Proste Foundation
Tychy Osiedle Q
Visegrad Insight
We are Together Association
Workshop for All Beings
Zielone Mazowsze

Portugal

Academia Cidadã

Romania

Fundația pentru Dezvoltarea Societății Civile
Apulum Forum Association
Asociatia eLiberare
Association for Social Integration and Environmental protection Feedback Brasov
Association of Ecotourism in Romania
Átlátszó Erdély
Brașov Community Foundation
Center for Public Innovation (Romania)
Center for the Study of Democracy
Centre for Legal Resources
Centrul pentru Studiul Comparat al Migrației
Civic Radauti Association
CIVICA Association
E-Romnja Association
Federația Organizațiilor Neguvernamentale pentru Copil – FONPC
Fundația Comunitară București
Fundația Comunitară Buzău
Fundația Comunitară Cluj
Fundatia Comunitara Galati
Fundatia Comunitara Iasi
Fundatia Comunitara Oradea
Fundatia Comunitara Sibiu
Fundatia Comunitara Tara Fagarasului
Fundația Comunitară Timișoara/Timișoara Community Foundation
FUNDATIA COMUNITARA VALCEA (VALCEA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION)
Intercultural Institute Timisoara
Migrant Integration Center Brasov, Romania
Mioritics Association
MozaiQ LGBT Association
Mures Community Foundation
Novapolis Association – Center of Analysis and Initiatives for Development
Odorheiu Secuiesc Community Foundation
Organizația Umanitară CONCORDIA
Prahova Community Foundation
Resource Center for Roma Communities Foundation
Respiro Human Rights Research Centre
Romanian Federation Of Community Foundations
Save the Children Romania
Society for Feminist Analyses
The Ecotourism Association Tara Dornelor (AETD)
The Federation of Nongovernmental Organisations for Social Services-FONSS

Slovakia

Centrum pre výskum etnicity a kultúry (Center for the research of ethnicity and culture)
Ekopolis Foundation
Iniciatíva Inakosť
Kompromis – Kompromisszum
MEMO 98
Možnosť voľby/Freedom of Choice
Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia
People in Peril
Volunteer Center Banska Bystrica

Slovenia

CNVOS – Centre for information service, co-operation and development of NGOs
ADRA Slovenjja
Alpe Adria Green, International organisation of protection of Environmental and nature
Association Legebitra
Celiac Slovenija – društvo bolnikov s celiakijo (Celiac Slovenia – Celiac Disease Patients Association)
Center za trajnostni razvoj podeželja Kranj
Danes je nov dan, Inštitut za druga vprašanja
Društvo prijateljev mladine občin Postojna in Pivka
Društvo Svit Koper
Društvo za razvijanje prostovoljnega dela Novo mesto
Društvo za strpne odnose Eksena
Državljan D / Citizen D
Forum za enakopraven razvoj
Global Water Partnership Slovenia
Institute Meta’s list
Ljubljanska kolesarska mreža
Local development foundation for Pomurje region
Maribor Cycling Network
Mesto žensk, Društvo za promocijo žensk v kulturi
Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society
Muzej norosti, Trate
Planet to the 3rd Power, Institute for Interdisciplinary Sustainable Development
Slovene Philanthropy
Slovenian Third Age University
Transparency International Slovenia
VARNA POT zavod za pomoč žrtvam prometnih nesreč, preventivo, vzgojo in izobraževanje
Zavod Aspira
Zavod Etnika
Zavod Igrivi svet
Zavod PIP
Zavod Radio Študent
Zavod ZON.si
Združenje ONA VE
Zveza društev Mladinski center Postojna (Youth Center Postojna)