Civic Champions: International Consultation Meeting in Vienna Advances Efforts to Safeguard Civic Space in the EU

On 26 September 2025, the Civic Champions Project convened its International Consultation Meeting on Safeguarding Civic Space in the EU at Impact Hub Vienna. The event brought together representatives from European institutions, civil society organisations, local authorities, and digital innovation experts to address pressing challenges facing civic space across the region.

The meeting opened with remarks from Mariyan K. Sabev, Director of Communications & Senior Security Analyst at the Center for the Study of Democracy, and Rania El Ampasy, Civic Engagement and Governance Unit Coordinator at KMOP. They underlined the urgency of reinforcing civic freedoms and fostering resilience in the face of growing pressures on democratic participation.

In the session Civic Space at a Crossroads – Threats and Resilience in Focus, leading experts including Waltraud Heller (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights), Shams Asadi (Head of Human Rights Office, City of Vienna), Hedvig Morvai (ERSTE Stiftung), and Cristina Marcuzzo (DG Research & Innovation, European Commission) shared perspectives on current challenges and strategies to safeguard civic space.

The keynote address, Smarter Safeguards – How Digital Tools Can Protect Democratic Space, was delivered by Arno Scharl, Managing Partner at webLyzard technology, highlighting how innovative technologies can support civil society organisations (CSOs) in navigating emerging threats.

A central focus of the consultation was the presentation of the Early Warning Mechanism (EWM) by Rania El Ampasy, showcasing its potential as a monitoring tool to identify risks and provide timely responses for CSOs. Participants later engaged in a Feedback and Q&A session to further shape and strengthen the EWM.

The consultation concluded with closing remarks from Rania El Ampasy, emphasising the importance of collaboration and joint commitment to preserving democratic space across the EU.

This international gathering marks an important milestone in the Civic Champions Project’s mission to foster dialogue, strengthen safeguards, and empower civil society in Europe.

Learn more about the Civic Champions Project here.