Month: May 2026

Right now, the European Union is renewing its Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan: the five-year blueprint that guides how the EU promotes human rights and democracy worldwide. The timing could not be more important. The attacks on civil society are not random or isolated: they follow similar patterns across regions and are part of a broader, coordinated effort to weaken democracy and human rights worldwide. This is a genuine opportunity to step up. But only if the EU uses it well.

The question is not whether civil society will be mentioned in the new plan. It almost certainly will be. The question is whether civil society will be enabled, protected, resourced, and genuinely engaged through a proper framework that supports the Action Plan’s implementation, or whether it will be squeezed out of the actual work.

A foundation worth building on

The current Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan does a number of things right. It recognises independent civil society as essential to democratic resilience. It commits to protecting a safe and enabling environment for civil society organisations. It calls out restrictive legislation, including limits on foreign funding. It positions CSOs not only as partners in implementation but as watchdogs in governance, media freedom, digital rights, and multilateral spaces.

This is a solid foundation. Civil society and civic space are woven across all five pillars of the current plan, not treated as a side issue. That mainstreaming matters, and it should be preserved in the next cycle. But a foundation is not enough if the walls are crumbling around it.

The gap between words and practice

Here is the uncomfortable truth: the EU’s stated commitment to civil society is not matched by what actually happens with its money and its programmes.

A recent CONCORD study, Who Still Holds the Lion’s Share?, analysed over €26 billion in EU external action funding. The findings are striking. Only 10% of the budget reviewed is explicitly earmarked for civil society organisations. For 70% of the funding, there is simply no publicly available information to even assess whether any of it reaches civil society at all. Indirect management – where the EU delegates implementation to large pillar-assessed organisations such as UN agencies or development banks – now accounts for 62% of the budget, and CSOs are structurally excluded from this modality under EU financial rules.

The picture does not improve when you look at the EU’s flagship infrastructure investment initiative, the Global Gateway. On paper, democratic values and high standards are among the core principles guiding Global Gateway investments through the 360° approach.  In practice, it is difficult to ascertain the degree to which the principles are integrated in projects and with what impact. According to recent research by CONCORD, despite the stated importance of the 360° approach, its components do not yet constitute systematic features of investment-led cooperation, nor are they properly followed up and reported to the public. Additionally, the Global Gateway Civil Society and Local Authorities Advisory Platform has a mandate to “hold the EU to account for respecting and fulfilling EU values”, yet with no real influence over strategy, no say in project selection, and no mechanism to hold anyone accountable for the recommendations it makes, it is difficult to categorise it as anything more than another box-ticking exercise.

Meanwhile, the European Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework would discontinue the dedicated Civil Society Organisations and Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programmes: the very funding streams that currently provide the most accessible and predictable resources for civil society work. Removing them without a credible replacement would not simplify things. It would fragment support and weaken the partnerships that have been built over years.

Taken together, these trends point in a troubling direction: civil society is being slowly moved from the role of independent actor to that of occasional consultant. Present at the launch event. Absent from the decisions.

What the new Action Plan should set in motion

The Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan is not a funding instrument. But it is not without weight: endorsed by Member States, it defines what the EU publicly commits to on human rights and democracy, and holds institutions accountable for following through. That is precisely why the next plan needs to go further on civil society, not pull back. This matters all the more because CSOs are in fact a key channel for implementing the Action Plan itself: the majority of funding that does reach civil society flows through governance, human rights, and democracy programmes – exactly the areas the AP prioritises. Three things matter most:

1. First, name the threats honestly, including the ones closer to home. The new Action Plan should explicitly acknowledge that civic space is shrinking inside the European Union too, and that this has consequences beyond Europe’s borders. When EU Member States restrict foreign funding for NGOs, criminalise protest, or treat civil society as a political opponent, it undermines the EU’s credibility when it raises the same issues with partner countries. But this is not just a matter of political coherence. The EU has a legal obligation, under Article 11(2) of the Treaty on European Union, to engage with civil society both internally and externally. Protecting civil society actors inside the EU also directly legitimises their role in partner countries: when the EU tolerates restrictions at home, it weakens its own argument abroad.
   
   
2. Second, make the funding real. Political commitments without resources are just words. The new Global Europe Instrument should call on the EU to push for ring-fenced allocations, at least 15% of programmable external funding implemented by civil society organisations. It should also push back on the tendency to replace grants with financial instruments and blended finance in contexts where these tools simply do not work: fragile states, closed civic space environments, and organisations working with marginalised communities. For many of the most important human rights and democracy programmes, grant-based, flexible, multi-year funding is not a preference. It is a necessity. Equally, the instrument should explicitly recognise advocacy and network-building as legitimate activities for civil society under EU funding – not risks to be managed, but core contributions to democracy that the AP itself depends on.
   
   
3. Third, make engagement meaningful, not ceremonial. The European Union should ensure that EU delegations have the mandate, the capacity, and the resources to work with local civil society, including organisations led by and representing women, people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ communities, and other marginalised groups. In this regard, the ongoing restructuring of EU Delegations is a real and immediate risk: if it reduces the presence and capacity of CSO and human rights focal points on the ground, it will make meaningful engagement harder in exactly the places where it matters most. To make this engagement real, the EU should support a strong programming process that involves civil society throughout the project cycle and in human rights dialogue – not only at the start of a programme, and not only with the same well-connected organisations in capital cities – ensuring the plan is actually implemented through and with the people it is meant to empower.

The opportunity ahead: building on a strong foundation

The EU has built something worth defending in its Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan. The recognition that civil society is not just a service provider but a democratic actor in its own right, that civic space matters, that human rights defenders need protection, and that independent CSOs are essential to resilient societies, is the right framework.

But frameworks only hold if the EU is willing to back them up.

The renewal of the Action Plan is a moment to do exactly that. To close the gap between the EU’s stated values and its actual practices. To move civil society from the footnotes of policy documents to the centre of implementation. And to acknowledge that you cannot credibly champion democracy abroad while sidelining the people who build it.

This piece draws on CONCORD’s advocacy work on the EU Civil Society Strategy (September 2025), the MFF Analysis (December 2025), Who Still Holds the Lion’s Share? (March 2026), and Unlocking the Potential of the EU’s Global Gateway: Meaningful Engagement with Civil Society (March 2026).

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is  co-funded  by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Acknowledgment Article Contributions: Salomé Guibreteau and Jaimie Just

Camilla Falsetti,
Communications and Media Adviser, CONCORD

The article was published at the PolicyPress.

In 2026, the concepts of the rule of law, democracy, and human rights continue to constitute fundamental values of Europe and the international community. However, contemporary developments on a global scale raise legitimate concerns regarding their protection and effective implementation.

Ongoing conflicts, humanitarian crises, hate speech, and attacks against vulnerable social groups, such as the LGBTQI community, highlight the serious challenges currently facing human rights. According to a recent survey by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 14% of LGBTQI individuals in Europe reported having been victims of physical or sexual assault over the past five years, an increase compared to previous years, demonstrating that, despite institutional progress, the social reality remains alarming.

At the same time, the questioning of democratic institutions, pressures on the independence of the judiciary, and limited tolerance toward differing opinions further intensify concerns regarding the safeguarding of the rule of law. In its 2025 Annual Rule of Law Report, the European Commission notes that, despite reforms implemented in several Member States, significant challenges persist in areas such as media freedom, transparency, institutional checks and balances, and the protection of civil society.

The rule of law, democracy, and human rights are inextricably linked. The existence of democratic institutions presupposes respect for fundamental freedoms, while the effective protection of human rights strengthens democratic participation and social cohesion. Likewise, institutional independence and freedom of expression constitute essential prerequisites for maintaining a strong rule of law.

At the same time, the spread of disinformation, the targeting of journalists, and the rise of extremist narratives create an environment of heightened uncertainty for the democratic functioning of societies. Recent European reports record increasing pressures on media freedom and declining public trust in information institutions across several European countries.

In an era where words often seem to lose their true meaning and facts themselves become distorted, reminding many of the dystopian reality depicted in “1984” by George Orwell, the need to defend democratic values becomes even more urgent. Safeguarding the rule of law and human rights is not only the responsibility of states and institutions, but also the collective duty of every democratic society.

Within this context, alongside the actions of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European programme EU Presidency Project 5 (EUPP5), implemented in Cyprus by CARDET, contributes to strengthening democracy and the rule of law by promoting the active participation of civil society in public dialogue and decision-making processes. Through collaboration among citizens, organisations, and institutions, as well as the organisation of workshops and public discussions on critical issues, transparency and participatory governance are reinforced, thereby contributing to the protection of democratic values and fundamental rights in Europe. Preserving an open, inclusive, and tolerant Europe depends on constant vigilance against every form of authoritarianism, discrimination, and restriction of fundamental freedoms.

Therefore, within an environment marked by uncertainty and challenges, the protection of human rights remains a beacon of hope, democracy, and change for a society founded on respect, equality, and human dignity.

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.  

Foteini Sokratous,
Project Manager, CARDET

The article was published at the PolicyPress.

In the world of strategic communication and marketing, we know well that trust is the only currency with real value. Today, Artificial Intelligence, while acting as a driving force for innovation, has simultaneously evolved into the most effective tool for the spread of hybrid threats. Disinformation is no longer an amateur effort aimed at impression-making; rather, it has become an industrialized operation targeting the erosion of institutions and the destabilization of the democratic sphere. From our position as professionals working in the field of information management, we must recognize that protecting the truth is our duty in order to ensure social cohesion.

Digital Erosion and Hybrid Threats

The use of algorithms to generate convincing yet false narratives creates an environment in which the average citizen struggles to distinguish fact from fabrication. This “gap” creates opportunities for exploitation by organized crime and terrorism, while corruption accelerates. With the sheer speed of the digital space, it becomes easy to spread fear or conceal illegal activities. Therefore, the field of cybersecurity cannot be limited to the protection of systems alone; it must also extend to safeguarding the integrity of information itself.

Strategic Solutions and Dynamic Resilience

The transition from merely diagnosing the problem to effectively fortifying against it requires concrete, actionable solutions. A modern democracy must operate with the reflexes of an organism in a constant state of readiness. Crisis preparedness and management in the digital age now rely heavily on our ability to anticipate attacks before they occur. With the help of predictive analytics, we can identify behavioral patterns that signal an impending hybrid attack on infrastructure or a coordinated attempt to manipulate electoral processes.

At the same time, investment in “reverse verification” systems is essential, where Artificial Intelligence itself acts as an auditor, identifying the source and authenticity of content before it influences public opinion. However, the solution is not only technical or technological, but also structural. A robust legislative framework is required to enforce transparency in the algorithms of major platforms, ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights in the digital space. Resilience is not a static condition, but a dynamic process of continuous reinforcement.

Digital Rights as a Value-Based Shield

In our effort to safeguard society, we must not sacrifice the principles that make it free. The protection of rights in the digital space must remain our red line. The use of Artificial Intelligence for security purposes must be governed by transparency and ethics, ensuring that technology serves to protect citizens rather than becoming a tool for indiscriminate surveillance.

Return to Authenticity

For those of us engaged in strategic communication, the message is clear: responding to technological deception requires not only more technology, but also greater authenticity. Safeguarding democracy against hybrid threats and crises can only be achieved when citizens themselves feel safe, informed, and protected. The challenge is to use Artificial Intelligence as a “verification shield”, restoring the value of truth in a digital world that risks losing it.

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.  

Ourania Pavlou
Head of Marketing and Communications, CARDET

The article was published at the PolicyPress.

CARDET announces the renewal of its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), reaffirming a long-standing and impactful collaboration in the fields of research, education, and innovation. The renewed agreement, which was signed remotely, builds on a partnership that began in 2015 and has since evolved into a partnership fostering interdisciplinary initiatives with global reach.

Over the past decade, CARDET and YSPH have successfully implemented a wide range of joint activities, including collaborative research projects, student summer internships, grant and manuscript submissions, academic exchanges, and public engagement initiatives. These efforts have contributed to advancing knowledge and practice in public health, well-being, digital learning, and sustainability across Europe, the Euro-Mediterranean region, and beyond.

Key achievements of the collaboration include participation in major European-funded projects, joint submissions under Horizon Europe and PRIMA programmes, and ongoing initiatives such as Thriving Schools,PERMA-Digital, and the Teachers’ Well-being and Career Observatory (TWCO), a flagship initiative supporting large-scale data collection and analysis on teacher well-being, mental health, and professional development across Europe. The partnership has also supported graduate student internships, enabling YSPH students to engage in applied research and policy experimentation in collaboration with CARDET’s research teams.

In addition, both institutions have co-organized lectures, courses, and international events addressing critical topics such as mental health, health education, and science communication. Their collaboration has also produced significant academic outputs, including conference publications and contributions to data analysis.

The renewed MoU sets the foundation for exploring possible expansion of the  collaboration into new strategic areas. These include assessing the need and feasibility of the establishment, with focused guidance and support from Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, of a clinical trials coordinating centre in the Euro-Mediterranean region, joint research on mental health and well-being, and the pursuit of new funding opportunities under upcoming European frameworks. The agreement also emphasizes continued academic exchange, co-supervision of postgraduate research, and the development of innovative educational programmes.

Dr. Charalambos Vrasidas, Founder and CEO of CARDET, stated: “Renewing our collaboration with the Yale School of Public Health is both an honor and a strategic milestone for CARDET. Over the years, we have built a strong and productive partnership grounded in shared values and complementary expertise. This renewed agreement allows us to further scale our joint efforts, develop innovative solutions to complex global challenges, and strengthen our impact in research, education, and policy development”.

Dr. Tassos C. Kyriakides of the Yale School of Public Health, commented: “Our collaboration with CARDET has demonstrated the value of cross-regional and multi-disciplinary partnerships in addressing pressing public health challenges. Through joint research, academic exchange, and innovation-driven initiatives, we have been able to generate meaningful impact and tangible outputs that link science and society. We look forward to deepening this collaboration and exploring new opportunities that advance science, education, and well-being globally”.

As CARDET and the Yale School of Public Health enter this new phase of collaboration, both institutions remain committed to leveraging their expertise and networks to deliver high-quality research, foster innovation, and contribute to sustainable development and public health advancement worldwide.