News
Contributions of Hungarian CSOs to the European Comission’s Rule of Law Report 2023
In 2022, the Government of Hungary made some important steps to upgrade the country’s rule of law performance, although not in response to the findings and recommendations included in the 2022 Rule of Law Report, but as part of 1) the conditionality mechanism triggered by the European Commission and 2) the negotiations over Hungary’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. The 17 commitments made by the...
The 2021 Edition of the Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI) for Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia released
The 2021 edition of the CSO Sustainability Index of Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia was published by the United States International Development Office, USAID. The report is prepared in cooperation with local experts and organizations each year. In compiling the chapter on Hungary the Ökotárs Foundation was the partner of USAID again. Download the report on Hungary...
The Government’s bill on public consultation does not offer real solutions
According to civil society organisations, the bill submitted by the Government which would amend the rules of public consultation “in the interest of reaching an agreement with the European Commission” offers only pretend solutions. Strengthening public participation in lawmaking is an important goal, but it would require, first and foremost, real governmental will, meaningful implementation...
Civil society under populist rule: perspectives and hopes
Democracy and civil society have a two-way relationship. One the one hand, civil society through its diverse roles is an important contributor to upholding and improving democracy: its organisations (CSOs) act as channels and facilitators of citizen engagement, participation and activism, help educate the younger generations and provide services to vulnerable groups so that they can too...
Civil society under populist rule: perspectives and hopes
Democracy and civil society have a two-way relationship.
One the one hand, civil society through its diverse roles is an important contributor to upholding and improving democracy: its organisations (CSOs) act as channels and facilitators of citizen engagement, participation and activism, help educate the younger generations and provide services to vulnerable groups so that they can...
Why do we need a European civil society strategy?
The Reclaim Our civil Space! project aims at addressing the trends of democratic backsliding and shrinking civil space observed for the past years particularly in Central and Southeastern Europe. The project implemented with 9 partners in 7 Central European countries. This workshop aims at further brainstorming about the idea, the need and the potential content of a comprehensive EU civil...
Civil society and parliamentary elections in Hungary 2022
Almost two months after the decisive general elections at the beginning of April, it is time to take stock of what happened, to look at the European context and discuss next steps. This conference will be the closing event of a 2-year long project managed byÖkotárs in partnership with Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Civil College and Power of Humanity Foundation aimed at building the...
The need for a comprehensive European civil society strategy
According to the Blue Book[1] describing the priority sectors and programme areas of the 2014-22 period “Support from the EEA and Norway Grants to civil society reflects a firm recognition of the sector’s role as a fundamental building block of democratic governance, human rights and social cohesion across Europe. (…) Civil society organisations (CSOs) mobilise participation in civic...
EU Social Economy Action Plan opens a new chapter for philanthropy
The European Commission released its Social Economy Action Plan on 9 December, which recognises the important role of foundations and other social economy actors in offering concrete and innovative solutions to key challenges we are facing and their key role to rebuild after the crises. For Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea), a convergence of Dafne and EFC, this marks a moment of...
