The just-published Civic Space Report 2026 by the European Civic Forum sheds light on the growing challenges facing civil society across Europe. For organisations and initiatives dedicated to Citizen Initiatives in Global Solidarity (CIGS), this report is more than a snapshot of trends—it’s a call to action.
In 2025, civic space in Europe faced unprecedented pressure, with restrictions becoming institutionalised through administrative, financial, and rhetorical means. The report highlights how far-right and mainstream parties increasingly delegitimise civil society, withdraw public funding for advocacy groups, and criminalise solidarity with migrants and refugees. These developments directly impact CIGS organisations, which rely on open civic space to advocate for global justice, human rights, and democratic participation.
For CIGS, the report underscores the urgency of defending the right to organise, protest, and engage in transnational solidarity. It also reveals how EU policies are sometimes complicit in normalising these restrictions, making it essential for CIGS to mobilise, adapt, and resist—just as many civil society actors are already doing across the continent.
The report’s findings are a reminder that the fight for civic space is not just about protecting rights at home, but also about ensuring that global solidarity can thrive.
Read the full report here.