Civil society

Europe News

MEPs reject renewed attacks on NGO funding in EU budget review

A parliamentary committee has voted down a raft of amendments from right-wing lawmakers seeking to incorporate sharp criticism of EU funding for non-governmental organisations into the discharge of the bloc’s 2023 budget.

08/04/2025

Europe News

Commission denies singling out NGOs in green funding row

After right-wing parties in the European Parliament narrowly lost a symbolic vote on blocking funding for non-profit groups through the LIFE Programme, the European Commission issued a detailed statement that has done little to reassure critics who see the affair as an attack on civil society.

02/04/2025

Europe News

MEPs reject call to halt funding for environmental NGOs 

In a knife edge vote, the European Parliament’s environment committee voted down an objection jointly tabled by the conservative European People’s Party (EPP) against continued funding of civil society campaign groups.

01/04/2025

Health news

Germany legalises limited amounts of marijuana

From April, people aged 18 and over will be allowed to have 25g of cannabis and grow three plants of marijuana.

01/04/2024

Europe News

Over 200 NGOs warn Brussels against possible foreign interference law

In a statement to Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, the NGOs warn that such legislation could hurt the EU's credibility to defend human rights abroad and embolden repressive leaders.

03/05/2023

Hungary

Euroviews. Hungarian case shows the EU needs a bulletproof media freedom law

Further provisions would be a bold but welcome move by the European Commission, which could stop powerful groups from gaining control of the other media systems within the EU, Marius Dragomir writes.

21/04/2023

World News

'Fall of democracy': Georgia's foreign agent law widely condemned

"The goal of this law is to stop critical voices from being heard," said a group of the country's media outlets.

28/02/2023

World News

Euroviews. 'Foreign interference' is not the main threat to democracy in the EU

The ongoing European Parliament corruption scandal is being used by some to launch a witch-hunt against civil society and NGOs. This is only fuelling the already worrying crackdown on critical voices that hold governments to account, Raffaella Bolini and Jean-Marc Roirant write.

28/02/2023

Culture news

Inmates dancing to escape in Portuguese prison

The workshop prepares inmates for social reintegration and allows them to take their minds off their troubles.

28/11/2022

Ukraine

Ukrainians speak about their life and hope near the frontline

The closer the Ukrainian soldiers are to Kherson, the greater the chances of more civilians staying alive - Mykolaiv residents share their views on the Ukrainian army advances.

17/10/2022

Travel News

Euroviews. Post-Brexit Brits now need to do a 4-day course to live in France

These training days, delivered in French, now await any Brit like myself who has migrated to France since the UK fully left the EU.

24/07/2022

Ukraine

Euroviews. One view prevails in Russia - that of madness and destruction | View

"So, now in Russia, there is no organised opposition to Putin’s war. No mass protests. No critical debate on TV channels entirely controlled by Putin and his cronies."

07/03/2022

Slovenia

Euroviews. EU leaders must pay attention to civic freedoms in Slovenia | View

Thirty years after the EU formally recognised Slovenian independence, one of its former champions is presiding over an erosion of press freedom and civil society. Act now before it's too late, warns CIVICUS researcher Aarti Narsee.

17/01/2022

Earth News

Stuck for ideas? Why not give a seagrass meadow this Christmas?

These 10 environmental and climate action charities need your support to continue their vital work into 2022.

06/12/2021

Russia

Memorial: Russian court hears petition to close renowned rights group

Memorial rose to prominence for its studies of political repression in the Soviet Union and currently encompasses more than 50 smaller groups in Russia and abroad.

26/11/2021

Norway

'Norway owes us', says Hungary, after Oslo suspends aid in NGO row

Norway said Hungary refused to appoint "the best-qualified candidate" to manage the funds allocated to civil society.

23/07/2021