Against the background of concerning shrinking civic space trends in the European Union (EU), this project aims to contribute to creating an enabling environment for civil society in five EU Member States that are in acute need of civil society strengthening: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, and Portugal.

The project will allow Civil Society Organisations working on women’s rights, environmental justice, and anti-corruption to be more effective in the promotion of EU values, be more resilient to threats, and be able to quickly respond to concerning trends affecting space for civil society in their respective countries. This will ultimately lead to better protection, promotion, and acknowledgment of EU fundamental rights and values in the target countries and, consequently, will contribute to strengthening respect for the EU values at the EU level too.

We focus on supporting catalysts of change that are most under pressure and that have an important role to play in facing the challenges of this time: grass roots organizations and movements that protect women’s rights and/or the environment in the following countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia

The European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL) is a non-governmental organisation based in the Hague, Netherlands working on empowering civil society through creating enabling legal and policy frameworks. ECNL activities help build conditions that enable civil society organisations (CSOs) to operate independently, be financially sustainable, have strong governance, engage in policy and mobilise public support. Beyond shaping policies and advocating for enabling environment for civil society, ECNL empowers local stakeholders, monitors the implementation of tools and mechanisms, and creates a knowledge base through research and analysis.