Civic Actors – a Resource for Europe: CARE

Programme(s): Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV)
Topic(s): CERV-2025-OG-SGA
Type of action: CERV Operating Grants Framework Partnerships

Project ID: 101236868

Objective:

"The project ""Civic Actors – a Resource for Europe"" (CARE), led by the European Civic Forum (ECF), aims to enlarge and protect civic space, strengthen democracy, and promote values enshrined in article 2 TEU like equality, solidarity, freedom, and inclusiveness. Representing a diverse network of nearly 100 civil society organizations across 29 countries, ECF addresses challenges such as restrictive laws, shrinking civic freedoms, limited funding, and increasing attacks on civil society organisations and human rights defenders. To tackle these issues, CARE is structured around three main objectives: 1. Expanding and protecting civic space, enabling civil society to play an active role in promoting democracy and inclusiveness. Activities include the powering of an Early Warning and Alert System through Civic Space Watch - highlighting restrictions and victories across Europe – and a Rapid response coalition against threats. 2. Advancing participatory EU policymaking by ensuring civil society voices are heard in decision-making. This includes efforts to establish a Civil Dialogue Agreement, capacity-building workshops, and stronger connections between grassroots organizations, citizens and EU institutions. 3. Resourcing and empowering civil society to sustain its work for equality, solidarity and inclusion, defending democracy, the rule of law and access to fundamental rights for all. This involves promoting sustainable funding, enhancing cross-border cooperation, and initiatives which highlight outstanding civic contributions. Through transnational collaboration, capacity building, and direct engagement with institutions and communities, CARE aims to empower civic actors, create a robust European civic space, and ensure civil society continues to be a vital pillar of democracy, inclusiveness, and human rights across Europe. "