News
The first calls of the Union Values Programme have closed
The deadline for CSOs to submit their applications to the first calls of Union Values Programme was 2 pm on 20 March 2023. The call for applications was open to cohesive and active civil society organisations that committed themselves to building new partnerships, developing as organisations, and expanding their methodological knowledge while implementing concrete campaigns. The first...
Fighting for Democratic Empowerment and Resilience report released
- Civil society is under pressure in several member states in 2022
- In Hungary the situation is similar
- Urgent call for a European civil society strategy
In memoriam Zsuzsa Foltányi (1956-2023)
We try to fathom the unfathomable: Zsuzsa is not with us any more. She passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on 25 February.
It is no exaggeration to say that her death is a great loss for the entire Hungarian civil society. Without her, there would be no Ökotárs, at least not in the form we know it today. And the same can be said of more than one organisation.
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...
